The programme, called Sustainable European Beef (SEUB) and with the slogan ‘For a sustainable Europe, the special mission of beef’, includes actions aimed at both the public and the production sector itself.
At a key moment for the future of the European agri-food sector, Provacuno, the Spanish Beef Interprofessional Association, and Apaq-W, the Walloon agency for the Promotion of Quality Agriculture in Belgium, have joined forces in a pioneering initiative, backed by the European Commission, to promote sustainability in the beef sector in Europe.
June marks the start of this far-reaching European programme, which will run for three years and has a clear objective: to promote the sustainable transition of the beef sector, strengthening its competitiveness without compromising its commitment to the environment, animal welfare and rural development. The programme, called Sustainable European Beef (SEUB) and with the slogan ‘For a sustainable Europe, the special mission of beef’, includes actions aimed at both the public and the production sector itself.
For citizens, the purpose is to increase awareness of the European beef production model, a model that stands out for its high standards of economic, social and environmental sustainability. In addition, it seeks to raise awareness of the importance of choosing European products, guaranteeing good practices in animal welfare, respect for the environment and the promotion of rural development.
On the other hand, the programme also aims to support the Spanish and Belgian beef sectors in their process of continuous improvement. To this end, the programme will facilitate access to technical information, specialised training and knowledge-sharing spaces, with the aim of promoting the implementation of sustainable best practices, especially those aimed at reducing emissions, preventing degradation and restoring agricultural and livestock soils.
Technological transformation to promote sustainability in both countries
A key component of the programme will be the technological transformation of the sector as a lever for sustainability. In this regard, both Belgian and Spanish producers have been committed to research and development as a pillar of sustainability improvement for years, and many measures have already been adopted and tools developed to be aligned with the EU’s Carbon Neutral 2050 Objective.
Thus, in the case of Spain, we are participating in different research projects and operational groups such as the SECUESVAC project, the Advanced Agrocomposting of Beef Cattle Manure project, the Water Footprint Reduction project and the European project ‘Re-livestock, Resilient Farming Systems’. We are also developing a pioneering digital tool to measure greenhouse gas emissions at different stages of the beef value chain. In this way, through an API connected to the sector’s management systems (ERP), farmers and industrialists will be able to accurately and in real time know the emissions generated, helping us to make more effective decisions to reduce our carbon footprint and move towards the EU’s climate goals.
A major symposium to promote the sustainability of European beef
At Provacuno and Apaq-W, we not only share a mission, but also a purpose. Both organisations have been working for years to make the beef sector more competitive, as well as fairer and more sustainable. With this initiative, we are taking a step further, convinced that beef produced in Europe is synonymous with quality, food safety and environmental commitment.
With the aim of creating a meeting point at European level to analyse the challenges and opportunities of sustainability in beef production, share best practices and promote debate on the role of livestock farming in the green transition, this campaign promoted by Provacuno and Apaq-w will kick off with the 1st Symposium on the Sustainability of European Beef, which will take place on 12 November 2025 in Brussels, the capital of Europe. This event will bring together institutional representatives, sustainability experts, industry associations, specialised media and producers from across Europe, and is open to anyone interested in the sustainability of beef. Attendance will be free of charge and participants can attend either in person or online after registering via this link.
