Animal production

The issues

• Intensive and extensive animal production occupies 30% of the world's ice-free land areas, and 70% of the world's cultivated areas are used to produce animal feed (FAO); to boost production, animal and mixed farmers have to be offered innovative, sustainable systems.

• The effects on the global environment of animal production and its by-products, during both production and processing, are significant: substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, high water consumption, varying effects on biodiversity; it is now vital to take account of these impacts.

• The role played by small-scale animal farms in alleviating poverty is widely recognized. However, local products face competition from animal products sold on the global markets by the main producing countries (Brazil, Europe): what standards and rules are required to foster local development?

• The health risks, for both farmed animals and humans, are a significant constraint on commercial trade; moreover, animal products can transmit germs to consumers if the appropriate sanitary measures are not taken during production, processing and distribution.

• How is global meat and milk consumption likely to change? Will it increase, as the FAO predicts? Might it fall in OECD countries? Is consumption likely to be more balanced between North and South?

CIRAD's role

The issues differ depending on the species. However, there are a certain number of universal questions, which CIRAD is working to answer.

• Sustainable animal production systems: measuring the environmental efficiency of animal production systems, developing and assessing practices likely to improve efficiency.
• Limiting the environmental impact of animal production.
• Contributing to the development of local supply chains.
• Developing animal production systems that help to alleviate poverty.
• Supporting producers' organizations and organizing the services on offer to animal farmers.
• Improving animal health: new vaccines, knowledge of the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases and zoonoses.