Intro -- Contents -- Executive summary -- Introduction -- Definitions and data -- Definitions -- Data -- Chapter 1. Importance of the grassland area and grassland-based systems in Europe and their spatial distribution -- Present acreage of grasslands and annual forage crops in Europe -- Spatial distribution -- Grasslands in organic farming -- Changes in grassland acreage in Europe -- Biomass productivity from permanent and temporary grasslands -- Chapter 2. Importance and changes in grazing animal production operations in Europe and their spatial distribution -- Herbivore herds in Europe -- Animal production -- Changes in livestock populations -- Changes in animal production and animal performance -- Chapter 3. Importance and changes in grassland-based systems -- Farm types -- Changes in the number of animal holdings -- Interviews with farmers and interactions between farmers and research -- Chapter 4. Grasslands for alternative production -- Energy production -- Green biorefinery and biochemicals production -- Chapter 5. Grasslands and ecosystem services -- Introduction -- Environmental issues related to grasslands -- Grassland-based biodiversity issues -- Landscape related issues -- National case studies -- Chapter 6. Grasslands in the economic supply chain: related industries -- Forage seed industry -- Interview with Beat Boller, Chairman of Eucarpia and senior forage breeder at Agroscope, Switzerland -- Chapter 7. Common Agricultural Policy: brief history, structure and influence on grasslands -- History -- The two pillars of the CAP -- Obligation of maintenance of the permanent grassland area -- Agri-environmental scheme -- Less Favoured Areas -- Consequences of the abolition of the milk quotas -- Other policies -- CAP effect on grasslands and grassland farms -- CAP: the way forward.

Interview with Jean-Fran�cois Louineau, Director of Administrative Services, Regional Council, Poitou-Charentes, France -- Conclusions -- Changes in the structure of the grassland area and grassland-based systems -- Changes in production processes -- Changes in the structure of animal production -- Effect of scientific research, public and private farmer's advisory services -- Effect of professional teaching -- Sociological driving forces -- Economic driving forces -- Political driving forces -- References -- Annex 1.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2023. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.