Tropentag, September 17 - 19, 2014 in Prague, Czech Republic "Bridging the gap between increasing knowledge and decreasing resources"

Sustainable Research Options for Food, Nutrition and Economic Security: Health, Wealth and Environmental Benefits of Livestock

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Directorate, Kenya

Abstract

Feeding the world, eradicating absolute poverty and keeping both people and the planet healthy dominate the global development agenda as the challenges presented by a population of almost 10 billion people by mid-century loom ever closer. While the large roles of agriculture and agricultural science in addressing such global challenges are increasingly recognised, the specific roles of animal agriculture and related sciences are commonly under-appreciated or neglected entirely. This despite all the evidence showing that the biggest opportunities regarding not just adequate food production but also mitigating hunger, ensuring balanced nutrition, ending poverty, balancing equity, averting public health threats and sustaining our environmental resources all relate intimately to the livestock sector. This presentation will make the case that the growth and transformation of smallholder livestock systems in developing countries is one of the biggest opportunities for creating a more nourished, healthy, environmentally sound/balanced and equitable world. The presentation will set out the global livestock research issues impinging on major development challenges facing the world. It will further explore the new opportunities for translating livestock research knowledge into practical development solutions to ensure that science-based solutions result in outcomes and impacts at significant scale.

Keywords: Smallholder livestock systems

Contact Address: James Smith, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Directorate, P O Box 30709 00100, Nairobi, Kenya, e-mail: j.smithcgiar.org