Animal agriculture has changed drastically over the last decade with a general shift towards intensive production systems, commonly referred to as factory farms. In the modern world, pasture-based systems are characterized by high stocking rates coupled with the continuous development and use of high maintenance animals (Wróbel et al., 2023). Whilst its necessary for feeding the growing world population, environmental effects of modern livestock production practices are well documented. Modern livestock production practices and climate change create a vicious cycle as the environmental effects of livestock production plays a major role in degrading the environment and climate change which, in turn, makes livestock production increasingly complex and less profitable. Climate extremes are now widespread, extraordinary, and intensifying (Mcleod et al., 2019). Many regions, especially least developed and island countries, experience severe and frequent cyclones, floods, heat waves and/or droughts every year (Bakare et al., 2020). Over the coming decades, climate change impacts are expected to become more frequent and severe worldwide (Bernabucci, 2019). Ecosystems, food production and human lives are at stake.

Morden animal agriculture practices cause environmental pollution, overexploitation of natural resources such as pastures and water and land degradation. If left unchecked, this will lead to adverse and possibly irreversible environmental, economic, and social changes around the world. This special issue aims to explore on the interaction between animal agriculture, environmental degradation and climate change and solutions to challenges posed by this interaction. The primary goal is to enhance livestock productivity under both pasture-based and indoor systems within the limits of animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss.

The research topic targets work on the interaction between animal agriculture, environmental degradation, and climate change, as well as strategies to enhance the resilience and adaptation of livestock producers to climate extremes. Contributions to this special issue are expected to cover, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Environmental impact of animal agriculture

• Animal agriculture emissions and climate change

• Sustainable solutions to factory farming

• Adaptation of both pasture-based systems and factory farms to climate change

• Breeding livestock for climate resilience

• Climate-smart animal production

• Use of non-conventional resources in animal agriculture in the wake of climate change

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Frontiers in Animal Science

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