INGENIO collaborates in a study analysing how transhumance systems currently operate in Spain from an agroecological perspective, taking into account not only livestock activity but also its economic, sociocultural and political dimensions.
The research provides a characterisation of Spanish transhumance systems and highlights the diversity within this livestock farming model. Among the main findings, the study identifies three major groups of transhumant farmers in Spain, differentiated by their productive, social and territorial characteristics.
The work also concludes that transhumance remains highly aligned with environmentally beneficial agroecological practices. These include nutrient recycling, reduced dependence on external inputs, improved soil health and the promotion of biodiversity, as well as greater resilience to external pressures such as market volatility and climate change.
The results underline the role of transhumance as a livestock farming system closely linked to environmental sustainability and local territories, while also providing relevant insights into the current situation and diversity of these systems in Spain.
This project is part of the PRIMA programme, supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Reference: Lagos-Susaeta, F., Rivera-Ferre, M. G., Gallar, D., Morales-Reyes, Z., Pérez-Ibarra, I., Durá-Alemañ, C. J., Oteros-Rozas, E. (2026). Socio-productive characterization and agroecological analysis of Spanish transhumance. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2026.2627081
