How to Feed the World in Times of Pandemics and Climate Change? Opportunities for Innovation in Livestock Systems
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How to feed the world in times of pandemics and climate change? Opportunities for innovation in livestock systems A Required citation: FAO. 2021. How to feed the world in times of pandemics and climate change? Opportunities for innovation in livestock systems. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb2913en The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. ISBN 978-92-5-133864-3 © FAO, 2021 Some rights reserved. 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The original English edition shall be the authoritative edition.” Disputes arising under the licence that cannot be settled amicably will be resolved by mediation and arbitration as described in Article 8 of the licence except as otherwise provided herein. The applicable mediation rules will be the mediation rules of the World Intellectual Property Organization http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/mediation/rules and any arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Third-party materials. Users wishing to reuse material from this work that is attributed to a third party, such as tables, figures or images, are responsible for determining whether permission is needed for that reuse and for obtaining permission from the copyright holder. The risk of claims resulting from infringement of any third-party-owned component in the work rests solely with the user. Sales, rights and licensing. FAO information products are available on the FAO website (www.fao.org/publications) and can be purchased through [email protected]. Requests for commercial use should be submitted via: www.fao.org/contact-us/licence-request. Queries regarding rights and licensing should be submitted to: [email protected]. B Contents Foreword 3 Executive summary 4 Situation 6 Strengthening resilience to pandemics 9 Preventing future pandemics 12 Becoming more climate-resilient 15 Contributing to climate change mitigation 17 FAO in action on COVID-19 and climate change 20 Policy approaches 22 Call to action 23 Bibliography 24 Appendix 27 1 We are One World working together for One Health and Zero Hunger. 2 Foreword ivestock systems play a central role in food and nutrition security and contribute significantly to livelihoods and ©FAO Leconomic development. Investment in the transformation of livestock systems can accelerate progress in countering both climate destabilization and emerging infectious diseases while also furthering progress towards other sustainable development goals. status quo to embrace more innovative and integrative approaches. Global food security, economies, health, and livestock are Preparedness and response work for both pandemics and climate increasingly threatened by climate extremes. The frequency of shocks can be mainstreamed into existing programmes towards disease outbreaks – including the emergence of novel viruses and achieving a thriving global society where no one is left behind. zoonotic illnesses – is expected to continue rising. The crucible of COVID-19 is an opportunity to “build back better” Currently more than a third of the world’s population cannot by applying the lessons learned from emergency and rehabilitation afford a healthy diet and at least one in four people is without activities of past zoonotic disease outbreaks and natural disasters to regular access to sufficient food. Hunger has been rising in the last strengthen agri-food systems and economies. This means investing five years. Now is the time to reverse this trend and achieve Zero in sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agri-food systems for better Hunger. Because humankind’s survival depends on access to safe production, better nutrition, a better environment, and better lives. and healthy diets. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations As our world is facing escalating threats, we are challenged to (FAO) supports countries to accelerate progress in achieving this better safeguard livelihoods and transform our agri-food systems. vision through technology, innovation, data, and complements Agenda 2030 is there to guide us and we must act swiftly and – strengthening governance, human capital, and institutions. collaboratively to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). FAO is working hand-in-hand with its Members towards better Infectious disease outbreaks and climate shocks cause preparedness and resilience against threats to the health of people, disruptions that shake the bedrock of our agri-food systems. Without animals, and the environment. swift action, these challenges may have compounding effects, By working together, agri-food systems, livelihoods, and with even more severe consequences for food security, economic economies will be better protected from the adverse efffects of development, and global health. pandemics and climate change, and many lives can be saved; today Transforming our agri-food systems – in which livestock play and for generations to come. a pivotal role – requires that we overcome historical silos and the QU Dongyu Director-General Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 3 Executive summary Key messages • Globally we are only as protected as our most vulnerable • Reduce the risk of biological threats by: coordinating within and members because pathogens cross borders. across sectors for a One Health approach; diversifying supply • A strong evidence base is needed to better understand chains; improving surveillance of environments and pathogens, underlying causes of biological and environmental pressures as well as traceability of animal-source foods, connected to and their interaction effects in order to identify and manage early warning systems; strengthening infection prevention and risks before they become large-scale emergencies. control measures, including reducing exposure of people and • Opportunities to boost profitability through more effective animals to pathogen reservoirs such as wildlife; improving livestock production practices will also help to reduce the conditions at live animal and food markets; strengthening food burden of disease outbreaks and encourage innovations to safety measures; observing international standards for safe and make livestock production more resilient and sustainable. efficient food trade; and advancing infodemic management, • The economic case for market-based approaches and public risk communication, and community engagement for a more and private investments will help to mobilize resources to effective emergency response. deliver preparedness and response plans. • Boost climate resilience by: protecting livestock from • Mainstreaming livestock production innovations into existing unfavourable climate conditions; using the inherent mobility development programmes will help accelerate progress and of livestock to respond to variability in climate and resources; boost resilience to health and climate crises for achieving diversifying sources of protein, including exploration of global prosperity. alternatives less impacted by climate destabilization; and • Improve equity across livestock systems, ensuring the most fostering livestock genetic diversity with better matching of vulnerable are protected, including smallholder farmers, animal traits to environmental conditions. pastoralists, seasonal workers, women, and youth. • Climate change mitigation efforts can be further enhanced by: • Increase the agility of livestock systems to adapt to disruptions optimizing production relative to greenhouse gas emissions; by: improving preparedness and response plans; maintaining boosting recycling efforts, including manure management, special transport and trade corridors; boosting feed stocks, for a circular bioeconomy with less waste; capitalizing on medicine reserves, food storage, and cold chain capacity; nature-based solutions for carbon offsets and reversing land accelerating innovation for digital and technology solutions degradation; and exploring the environmental and health for market access and contactless processes; maintaining fair benefits – and potential risks – of alternative