**5. Conclusions and future perspectives**

The present study integrated structure, technical, productive and economic parameters that allowed for a deep understanding of the organic beef cattle farms of Southern Europe, as well as their similarities and differences with conventional ones. Organic farms have proved to be very similar to Conventional farms (but pasture-based or low-input). Accordingly, the

differences were based on the structure of the farms, more than the condition of their being organic.

According to the results discussed, it is worth mentioning that there was little orientation towards a different concept of farming, namely, environmental sustainability and self‐ sufficiency. However, the organic farm has been defined as a production system based on the principles of Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care. In this sense, consumers expect organic products to be based on these principles, and citizens support this system through taxes. All these aforementioned aspects shape the necessity to increase the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, self‐sufficiency and sales of organic products. Otherwise, the current production systems will hinder their sustainability due to high global competition, the increasing cost of agricultural inputs and reduced grazing resources in the Mediterranean area due to global warming. To do so, the education level of farmers, public support and farmer cooperation are essential. Moreover, further research is needed to study different production systems and strategies in order to improve the situation of the sector and the differential externalities of the organic livestock sector above the conventional one.
