World Livestock 2011: Livestock in Food Security

Feeding the world’s poor is one of the most pressing challenges of the present day, as human populations grow and put increasing strain on natural resources. Livestock have an important part to play, as they provide high-quality protein to consumers and regular income to producers. To fulfill their potential sustainably, they must be managed with care. Water, fossil fuel and grain are used in rearing animals, and there is an urgent need to use these resources more efficiently, to recycle and reduce waste, and to create a positive balance sheet in livestock’s contribution to global food supplies.

Although much has been said about livestock’s role in achieving food security, in reality, the subject has been only partially addressed and no current document fully covers the topic. This report is an attempt to fill the gap.

It expands the 2009 State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) (FAO, 2009b) section which examined the multiple roles played by livestock in the food security of the poor and advocated for support of smallholders, both in responding to opportunities in livestock production and in finding other opportunities within a broad rural development strategy.

Recognizing that food security is central to international development – and to the mandate of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO) – the report tells the story of livestock and food security from three perspectives.