A Changing World, an Adaptive Farm

The aim of the project is to analyse changes in the operating environment of livestock production and the risks arising from these changes. The project generates practice-oriented and decision-relevant knowledge that strengthens farms’ ability to anticipate risks and operate successfully under changing conditions.

At the same time, the project supports agricultural policy-making by providing analysis-based recommendations for improving risk management and adaptive capacity. Particular attention is given to structural changes in livestock farming, the development needs of the farm relief (substitute labour) system, and cost–benefit analyses related to preparedness for animal diseases.

The research is structured around five complementary themes:

• Disruptions in the operating environment – What kinds of external shocks and uncertainties does livestock production face now and in the future?

• Market and policy changes – How do price volatility, demand shifts and policy decisions affect the economic position of farms?

• Structural development, investment needs and renewal in livestock farming – How do structural change, investment requirements, financing risks, substitute labour arrangements and new technologies influence farm-level risk management?

• Biosecurity and production disruptions – How do animal disease risks and other production interruptions affect farms?

• Farm management and risk governance – How can risks be identified, assessed and integrated into strategic farm management?

The project develops risk management tools and analytical models that help farms identify key vulnerabilities and prepare for change in a systematic way. Results are made accessible in practical formats for farms, policy-makers and other stakeholders in the agri-food sector.