A magyar állattenyésztési ágazat kihívásai és lehetséges jövőképe

In developed countries, the negative environmental impacts of livestock farming are increasingly in the spotlight, such as the emission of greenhouse gases (methane, ammonia and nitrous oxide). In addition, economic and social problems such as the aging of agricultural farmers, the decline of small farms and backyard livestock farming have emerged, which have a significant impact on rural communities and pose an increasing challenge for rural development. The study examines the above-mentioned processes within the Hungarian livestock farming sector from the 1990s to the present. The research is based on the analysis of statistical data and policy documents, as well as interviews with young farmers (n = 66) engaged in livestock farming in the Southern Great Plain region. Our results point to the defining processes of the domestic agricultural sector, the concentration of farms and the significant decrease in the number of animals and livestock farms, as a result of which small producers have almost disappeared from the sector. In addition, important challenges such as the cessation of the multifunctional nature of animal husbandry or the delay and failure of the generational change of the farming community come to the surface. Based on all this, it can be said that these problems can no longer be effectively addressed within the current agro-rural development framework, and a paradigm shift, targeted programs and policy tools are needed to put animal husbandry on a new development path. The harmonious development of the sector can be ensured through conscious resource planning and communication between generations and knowledge transfer, which can be guaranteed by well-positioned young farmer subsidies.