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Paths beyond livestock: Exploring farmers’ transformations away from livestock farming in Germany

Sgarbossa, Sandra LU and Winter, Katharina LU (2025) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20251
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Livestock systems significantly contribute to climate change, environmental degradation, public health issues and animal welfare concerns, highlighting the need to reduce livestock numbers. As Germany is a key producer of animal products, this thesis explores the experiences of German farmers who partly or fully transformed away from livestock farming to other agricultural practices. Using the Three Spheres of Transformation framework, we examine their motivations, opportunities and challenges to identify pathways for supporting such transformations. Based on nine semi-structured interviews, findings show that structural economic pressures (political sphere) and ethical concerns (personal sphere) are the main drivers for transformation,... (More)
Livestock systems significantly contribute to climate change, environmental degradation, public health issues and animal welfare concerns, highlighting the need to reduce livestock numbers. As Germany is a key producer of animal products, this thesis explores the experiences of German farmers who partly or fully transformed away from livestock farming to other agricultural practices. Using the Three Spheres of Transformation framework, we examine their motivations, opportunities and challenges to identify pathways for supporting such transformations. Based on nine semi-structured interviews, findings show that structural economic pressures (political sphere) and ethical concerns (personal sphere) are the main drivers for transformation, while most opportunities and barriers lie in the practical sphere, with opportunities outweighing challenges. However, there are many interactions within and in between spheres. Key support measures should include changes in education, network-building, promoting plant-based diets, financial and advisory support and regulatory reforms targeting all three spheres while ensuring a just process. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Sgarbossa, Sandra LU and Winter, Katharina LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sustainability science, post-livestock, sustainability transition, food systems, deliberate transformation
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2025:037
language
English
id
9199213
date added to LUP
2025-06-17 09:57:04
date last changed
2025-06-18 08:59:48
@misc{9199213,
  abstract     = {{Livestock systems significantly contribute to climate change, environmental degradation, public health issues and animal welfare concerns, highlighting the need to reduce livestock numbers. As Germany is a key producer of animal products, this thesis explores the experiences of German farmers who partly or fully transformed away from livestock farming to other agricultural practices. Using the Three Spheres of Transformation framework, we examine their motivations, opportunities and challenges to identify pathways for supporting such transformations. Based on nine semi-structured interviews, findings show that structural economic pressures (political sphere) and ethical concerns (personal sphere) are the main drivers for transformation, while most opportunities and barriers lie in the practical sphere, with opportunities outweighing challenges. However, there are many interactions within and in between spheres. Key support measures should include changes in education, network-building, promoting plant-based diets, financial and advisory support and regulatory reforms targeting all three spheres while ensuring a just process.}},
  author       = {{Sgarbossa, Sandra and Winter, Katharina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Paths beyond livestock: Exploring farmers’ transformations away from livestock farming in Germany}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}