Consumer health and environmental impacts

Descriptions

Part (i) cattle production systems An evidence review is required to assess the consumer health and environmental impacts of cattle production systems, specifically with regards to farm type (housed, pasture, mixed). A clear appreciation of the merits, trade-offs and wider impacts of different systems is needed, ranging from 100% pasture-based approaches to more common conventional contemporary practices. As such, a comprehensive analysis of the underlying evidence comparing different cattle production systems and their limitations is sought. Part (ii) omega enriched chicken Purportedly health-promoting "functional foods" represent a growing presence in the marketplace and little is known about any wider potential trade-offs and environmental/health impacts associated with changes in production systems. Defra is seeking to more fully understand the evidence on whether meat/eggs from chickens reared on an omega-3 enhanced diet have a human health impact arising from unique nutritional merit and whether there any significant changes in environmental impact compared to conventional mixed feeding strategies.