Image credit: Franck Berthe

Today, 14 July 2017, the role of livestock in achieving the SDGs was the focus of a special event at the High-Level Forum on Sustainable Development. Organized by the International Livestock Research Institute, Heifer International, the Livestock Global Alliance and the Global Agenda on Sustainable Livestock, the session explored why livestock are essential for Agenda 2030.

The discussion built from these statements on the role of livestock in achieving the SDGs:

• Because of livestock’s contribution to individual livelihoods and national economies, we’re not going to end world poverty (SDG1) if we undervalue the major roles livestock play in the economies of developing countries and their peoples.
• Because of livestock’s role in sustainable agriculture and food production, we’re not going to end hunger, achieve food security and make agriculture sustainable (SDG2) without paying greater attention to the animal agriculture that makes small-scale food production viable and renewable on every continent.
• Because of the difference to growth and cognitive development that animal-source foods make for the World’s most vulnerable, healthy lives and the well-being of people of all ages (SDG3) will be unachievable without actions to ensure healthy and safe animal source foods are available for all.
• Because of the unique roles of livestock in women’s lives we’re not going to achieve gender equity and empowerment of all women and girls (SDG5) without deliberate efforts to build upon the multiple and enabling roles that livestock play in female livelihoods worldwide.

Program of the event:

Opening Session
– Welcome and remarks by Chair/Moderator Mr. Jimmy Smith, director general, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
– Remarks by H.E. Ms. Amira Gornass, Ambassador of Sudan to Italy, Permanent Representative of Sudan to the Rome Based Agencies & Chairperson, UN Committee on Food Security (CFS) “mixed farming allows farmers to create a more profitable and sustainable farming system”
– Remarks by Deirdre McGrenra, Chief, Americas Liaison Office, Partnership and Resource Mobilization
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) “a single pregnant cow can empower a woman. A calf, some milk and it can be the start of a new livelihood”

Panel Discussion – “Livestock and its critical intersection with achieving Agenda 2030”
– Franck C. J. Berthe, World Bank and Livestock Global Alliance  “the virtuous circle between knowledge and operations to unleash the potential of sustainable livestock to deliver on the 2030 Agenda”
– Akoto Osei, Nutrition Director, Heifer International  “smallholder livestock interventions can improve diet and early childhood outcomes if we focus on nutrition in the programs”
– Laura Sommer, Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture “Switzerland is a key donor supporting livestock and the SDGs to move forward the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock”

Discussion/Question and Answer Period

Summary and Wrap-up
– Closing remarks by Chair/Moderator, Mr. Jimmy Smith (ILRI)

Follow the conversation on Twitter with hashtag  SustLivestock