What the study found
The study found that assets linked to animal-sourced food make up 78% of fixed agricultural assets in the EU27 and U.K. It also estimated that reductions in animal-sourced food consumption could strand a large share of these assets, with bigger reductions leading to more stranding.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that policy- and climate-induced stranding risks are intertwined and should both be included in financial modelling as overlapping transition pressures. They also say that integrated policy support is essential to help repurpose or phase out animal-sourced food-related assets and avoid delays in sustainable food system transformations.
What the researchers tested
The researchers linked agricultural and economic data with global multi-regional input-output models, which trace how goods and services move through economies. They used this approach to estimate how different levels of reduced animal-sourced food consumption in the EU27 and U.K. could affect agricultural assets.
What worked and what didn't
They estimated that €158 billion of assets are linked to livestock and €100 billion to feed production. Under consumption reductions of 9.5%, 60%, and 100%, they estimated that 18%, 50%, and 77% of these assets could be stranded, respectively; current depreciation rates suggest there is generally enough time to phase out assets.
What to keep in mind
The summary does not describe detailed limitations or uncertainty ranges. The findings are specific to the EU27 and U.K. and to the scenarios modeled in the study.
Key points
- Animal-sourced food-related assets account for 78% of fixed agricultural assets in the EU27 and U.K.
- The study estimates €158 billion in assets linked to livestock and €100 billion linked to feed production.
- Estimated asset stranding rises as animal-sourced food consumption declines: 18%, 50%, and 77% across the modeled scenarios.
- The authors say policy- and climate-induced stranding risks should be treated as overlapping pressures in financial modelling.
- The abstract says current depreciation rates generally allow time to phase out assets.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- EU and UK livestock assets face major stranding risk
- Authors:
- Anniek Kortleve, José M. Mogollón, Helen Harwatt, Martin Brückner, Baoxiao Liu, Paul Behrens
- Institutions:
- Chatham House, Leiden University, Leiden University, Leiden University, Leiden University, Oxford BioMedica (United Kingdom), Science Oxford, University of Oxford, Vienna University of Economics and Business
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-19
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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