FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN A CHANGING WORLD: CHALLENGES AND INNOVATIONS

This paper analyses the future of agriculture and animal production under the combined pressures of global population growth, demographic shifts, climate change, political instability, and decreasing availability of natural resources. Special emphasis is placed on the indispensable role of traditional animal production in providing high-quality protein, essential nutrients, and ecosystem services, including soil fertility, nutrient recycling, and landscape management. While emerging technologies such as precision livestock farming, cultured meat, and fermentation-based animal product substitutes offer potential pathways to reduce environmental impacts and enhance production eficiency, they cannot fully replace the biological, socio-economic, and cultural functions of conventional livestock systems. By reviewing demographic trends, environmental impacts, and technological innovations, this paper highlights the urgent need for sustainable, resilient, and scientifically guided strategies in animal production. Maintaining and improving traditional livestock farming is essential not only for food security but also for preserving rural economies, cultural heritage, and the overall stability of agricultural systems in both global and Balkan contexts.

KEYWORDS / КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ: 

Animal production, sustainability, food security, precision livestock farming, lab-grown meat

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / ПРОЈЕКАТ:

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