Comparative Analysis of Agri-Food Systems for Extensive Livestock in the High Pyrenees and Creation of a Multicriterian Tool for Its Evaluation

The main objective of this study is to compare the different agri-food systems of extensive livestock (ecological and conventional) of big and small ruminants (cattle and sheep respectively) in high Pyrenees. This objective is formulated by looking at the general lack of knowledge of the population regarding the functionality of these systems, the changes of management that have been introduced in the recent years, especially in terms of commercialization, and the different capacity of response of extensive livestock systems to climate change and other socio-economic complementary changes. Attributes and indicators have been selected for the comparative evaluation of livestock systems, focusing on three political perspectives ecofeminism, adaptation to climate change and food sovereignty. The methodology adopted is mixed, including secondary databases and interviews for the analysis of extensive livestock agri-food systems and a series of participatory workshops with scientists and women livestock operators to select indicators that allow to highlight different critical points along the chain to compare agri-food systems. Four archetypes of each agri-food system studied were identified by following the product of meat from extensive livestock management of bovine and sheep. Although there are several differences between the organic and conventional beef and sheep meat systems, similarities have also been found. Sheep production, and in particular organic production, is the simplest, is the most traditional and shortest chain system. A set of 123 indicators have been identified by the dialogue between researchers and practitioners, grouped in 9 dimensions. When evaluating these systems, so far there have been many aspects that have not been valued or have been invisible, especially in the dimension of Dignified life and Social equity. There are also certain gaps of information, that should be filled in future research