FAO / LIVESTOCK CONFERENCE ADVANCER

The first-ever Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation will be hosted in Rome by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from 25 to 27 September 2023. Thanawat Tiensin, Director of Animal Production and Health Division at FAO, discussed ahead of the conference the importance of sustainable livestock production and why it is critical for agrifood systems and national economies.

The first-ever Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation will be hosted in Rome by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) from 25 to 27 September 2023.

The event will offer a neutral forum for representatives of FAO Members, producer organizations, research and academic institutions, development agencies, civil society organizations and private sector bodies to engage in dialogues on innovations and pathways to efficiently produce more nutritious, safe and affordable animal source foods while reducing the environmental footprint and contributing to resilient livelihoods.

Thanawat Tiensin, Director of Animal Production and Health Division at FAO, discussed ahead of the conference the importance of sustainable livestock production and why it is critical for agrifood systems and national economies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Thanawat Tiensin, Director of FAO's Animal Production and Health Division:

"Sustainable livestock production can refer to practices that aim to meet the needs of raising animals for food while minimizing negative environmental impact. Sustainable livestock production promotes the long term availabilities of agrifood system, protects natural resources, improves economic resilience, and contributes to the more sustainable and resilient future."

With global demand for animal food products expected to increase by 20 percent by 2050, meat, eggs, and dairy products will play a crucial role globally in ensuring food security and healthy and sustainable diets. At the same time, good practices and initiatives are needed to optimize the use of natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The event will address the most pressing issues faced by the livestock sector, including how to produce more with less environmental impact.

SOUNDBITE (English), Thanawat Tiensin, Director of FAO's Animal Production and Health Division:

"To produce more with less impact, we must first focus on improving the efficiency of livestock system. This includes optimizing feed conversion, reducing feed waste, enhancing nutrients utilization, reducing the degradation of land and water resources, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating environmental degradation. In addition, we must prioritize the adoption of climate smart agriculture and livestock practices."

Raising awareness of sustainable livestock production's contribution to national, regional and global development, exchanging information and knowledge on strategic and technical developments, and setting priorities for mobilizing scientific, technical, and financial resources will be the main objectives of the Conference.

On Monday 25 September, a new FAO report will also be launched “Methane emissions in livestock and rice systems: Sources, quantification, mitigation and metrics”.

SOUNDBITE (English), Thanawat Tiensin, Director of FAO's Animal Production and Health Division:

"The Global Conference can provide an opportunity to highlight the findings and key messages, contributing to the global dialogue on sustainable livestock production and its role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Overall, the conference plays a crucial role in advancing the agenda of sustainable livestock production and promoting holistic approaches that address environmental, social and economic aspects for livestock systems."

Held at FAO headquarters in Italy, the Conference will be divided into four sessions addressing topics ranging from animal feed and health to human nutrition, the use of digital technologies, the role of livestock for smallholders’ livelihoods and discussing synergies and trade-offs between livestock production, and the environmental, social and economic dimension of sustainability.

In addition, five side meetings will focus on the coming International Year of Camelids, the role of science and innovation, One Health-One Welfare and investments in the livestock sector.

STORY: FAO / LIVESTOCK CONFERENCE ADVANCER

TRT: 2’:58’’

SOURCE: FAO

RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT FAO ON SCREEN

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 11 SEPTEMBER 2023, ROME, ITALY / RECENT

SHOTLIST:

18 SEPTEMBER 2019, UGANDA

1. Tracking shot, cows walking through the grass

2. Wide shot, farmer picking up silage for feeding livestock

8 OCTOBER 2020, KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA

3. Wide shot, farmers feeding poultry

4. Close up, chicken eating seeds

28 FEBRUARY 2022, ZHARI DISTRICT, KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

5. Wide shot, herder walking with grazing sheep

6. Med shot, grazing sheep

FAO Headquarters, Rome Italy – File

7. Wide shot, FAO Headquarters

8. Zoom in, FAO logo

11 SEPTEMBER 2023, ROME, ITALY

9. SOUNDBITE (English), Thanawat Tiensin, Director of FAO's Animal Production and Health Division: "Sustainable livestock production can refer to practices that aim to meet the needs of raising animals for food while minimizing negative environmental impact. Sustainable livestock production promotes the long term availabilities of agrifood system, protects natural resources, improves economic resilience, and contributes to the more sustainable and resilient future."

2 MARCH 2022, HAZRAT SULTAN DISTRICT, SAMANGAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

10. Med shot, female livestock owner milking a cow

AUGUST 2020, AL-ODAIN, IBB GOVERNORATE, YEMEN

11. Various, poultry farmer cooking an egg meal for her children

12. Tilt down, poultry farmer and her children eating

11 SEPTEMBER 2023, ROME, ITALY

13. SOUNDBITE (English), Thanawat Tiensin, Director of FAO's Animal Production and Health Division: "To produce more with less impact, we must first focus on improving the efficiency of livestock system. This includes optimizing feed conversion, reducing feed waste, enhancing nutrients utilization, reducing the degradation of land and water resources, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating environmental degradation. In addition, we must prioritize the adoption of climate smart agriculture and livestock practices."

MAY 2017, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

14. Wide shot, farmer checking a cow part of an animal fattening project

15. Med shot, farmer checking a cow’s chest circumference 

8 OCTOBER 2020, KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA

16. Med shot, FAO staff checking poultry health

18 JULY 2017, AL GHEZLANEYE, SYRIA

17. Wide shot, FAO veterinarian spraying parasiticides on a sheep

OCTOBER 2022, LAHIRI MOHANPUR, BANGLADESH

18. Close up, farmer using a digital application for cattle management on a tablet

11 SEPTEMBER 2023, ROME, ITALY

19. SOUNDBITE (English), Thanawat Tiensin, Director of FAO's Animal Production and Health Division: "The Global Conference can provide an opportunity to highlight the findings and key messages, contributing to the global dialogue on sustainable livestock production and its role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Overall, the conference plays a crucial role in advancing the agenda of sustainable livestock production and promoting holistic approaches that address environmental, social and economic aspects for livestock systems."

NOVEMBER 2017, LUBAO, PAMPANGA PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES

20. Aerial shot, agricultural fields

MAY 2017, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

21. Med shot, cows drinking water

22. Close up, sheep grazing

23. Med shot, child holding a chicken

ENDS