European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders

Mission & Goals

The European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders (EFFAB) represents the European animal breeding and reproduction organizations active in ruminant, pig, poultry, aqua, and insect genetics. From small, medium, and global organisations, we cover a wide variety of actors breeding for conventional, outdoor, and organic animal farmers. Our mission is to engage in dialogue and raise awareness around the role of animal breeding in improving all types of animal farming systems. In animal breeding, the focus has traditionally been on responding to farming and societal challenges. In recent decades, this meant a shift towards more responsible and balanced breeding strategies that enhance animal welfare and health, reduce resource use and climate impact, and preserve genetic diversity. This is illustrated in Code EFABAR, the Code of Good Practices for Responsible and Balanced Breeding, developed by EFFAB.