6 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2025 EFFAB is the voice of animal breeding and reproduction organisations and companies. From small, medium and global organisations, we cover a wide variety of actors breeding for conventional, outdoor and organic animal farmers aimed at improving the next generations of farm animals. With our sister platform (FABRE TP), also hosted by the EFFAB secretariat, we are a unique place where the private sector and scientific institutions are committed to advancing responsible and innovative animal breeding practices through scientific collaboration. EFFAB’s primary mission is to dialogue with European policymakers and stakeholders, to whom we provide science-based and practical information about the role of animal breeding and genetics in sustainable animal farming. Animal breeders are at the start of European food systems and respond to farming and societal challenges. Yet, breeding in general and animal breeding in particular take time, and the decisions on the direction of travel made today will impact animal farming in 10 years’ time. This direction of travel is often narrowed to improving feed efficiency and animal productivity. These characteristics or traits are the basic ones linked to farmers' profitability, and the communication focus historically was on those. Worth noting that feed efficiency is also an indirect way to reduce GHG, in both monogastrics and ruminants. However, in the past 20 years, thanks to better knowledge and technology developed in research institutions, animal breeders have been able to expand the breeding goals and traits in breeding programs to better animal health and welfare, a further reduction of environmental impact (CH4 and N2O) and a better use of resources. This wide approach is called balanced animal breeding, as it aims to make an equilibrated compromise between all the essential aspects of animal farming. The weight of the different elements will depend on the species, the breeds and the farming systems. To illustrate this evolution, EFFAB has developed Code EFABAR, which aims to showcase how breedTHE ROLE OF ANIMAL BREEDING IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF ANIMAL FARMING Ana Granados Director at European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders — EFFAB LEAD ARTICLE Other traits Production Traits Improved animal health and welfare Better production and quality of the products 2000’s - Today 1970’s - 1980’s Better use of resources Preserving genetic diversity Ensured food security Reduction of environmental impact
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