Grasslands in Europe: current status, emerging challenges, and pathways to sustainable futures

This chapter provides a coherent, integrated overview of grasslands in Europe, addressing: (i) their current status and use, (ii) the ecosystem services they provide, (iii) the major drivers and trends affecting them, and (iv) promising innovations and research directions. These are illustrated by a case study from the project Grazing4AgroEcology that shows how innovative farmers, researchers and other stakeholders are now jointly exploring new approaches. Throughout the chapter, we advance the central argument that grassland systems can, if appropriately managed and supported, simultaneously deliver nutritious food and multiple ecosystem services, thereby contributing to resilient agricultural futures in Europe.