strategy
Improving animal feed products
Context:
Humans depend on livestock for meat, milk, wool, furs, skins, biofuels, and a host of other important products. Their importance in human society corresponds to the vast resources needed for their production, such as land for grazing, as well as the substantial environmental impact this entails. One approach to reducing the environmental degradation of livestock production may be by improving livestock feed. Improved feed qualities may, among others things, lower methane emissions from ruminants (currently responsible for 3% of total greenhouse gases) and lead to more efficient conversion of feed into meat and milk (permitting smaller herds, thus reducing deforestation for grazing land). Implementation:
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends improving productivity, nutritional quality and shelf-life of animal feed products, including work on pre- and post-harvest losses. Facilitates:
Farming animalsReducing overgrazingImproving animal husbandryEnsuring farm animal productivityPreserving perishable food stuffsProducing nutritious low cost meatRaising profitable market livestockImproving feeding of domestic animalsReducing methane emissions from animal husbandryIntensifying agriculture to reduce deforestation Facilitated by:
Using animal feed additivesTesting animal health productsDeveloping agricultural biotechnology Problems:
Contaminated animal feedCultivation of marginal agricultural land
Excessive use of hormones in animal husbandry
Excessive use of land for agriculture
Food insecurity
Health hazards from animal feedstuffs
Insufficient pastureland
Lack of meat and egg production
Methane gas emissions from animal husbandry
Misuse of agricultural resources for production of animal feed
Overgrazing
Organizations:
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Subjects:
Zoology → AnimalsIndustry → Products
Agriculture, Fisheries → Animal feedstuffs
Development → Reform
Type Classification:
D: Detailed strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
