Thumbnail Image

The state of food and agriculture 2009

Livestock in the balance

Year of publication 2009

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 180

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 9789251062159

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The livestock sector is transforming rapidly in response to shifts in the global economy and changing societal expectations. Society expects the livestock sector to provide safe and plentiful food and fibre for growing urban populations, livelihoods for more than a billion poor producers and traders as well as global public goods related to food security, environmental sustainability and animal-borne diseases. However, the rapid pace of change has led to unbalanced growth of the sector. This has manifested itself in a widening dichotomy within the sector in terms of the scale, intensity and efficiency of production and in unforeseen social, nutritional, animal health and environmental implications. These changes and the speed with which they are occurring have created systemic risks for livelihoods, human and animal health and the environment. To meet the challenges and constraints of the twenty-first century, the livestock sector requires appropriate in stitutions, research, development interventions and governance that reflect the diversity within the sector and the multiple demands placed upon it.

Language English

Also available in:
Show more

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    The state of food and agriculture, 2010-2011
    Women in Agriculture: closing the gender gap for development
    2011
    Also available in:
     Show more
    Women make significant contributions to the rural economy in all developing country regions. Their roles OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE differ across regions, yet they consistently have less access than men to the resources and opportunities they need to be more productive. Increasing women’s access to land, livestock, education, financial services, extension, technology and rural employment would boost their productivity and generate gains in terms of agricultural production, foo d security, economic growth and social welfare. Closing the gender gap in agricultural inputs alone could lift 100–- 150 million people out of hunger. No blueprint exists for closing the gender gap, but some basic principles are universal: governments, the international community and civil society should work together to eliminate discrimination under the law, to promote equal access to resources and opportunities, to ensure that agricultural policies and programmes are gender-aw are, and to make women’s voices heard as equal partners for sustainable development. Achieving gender equality and empowering women in agriculture is not only the right thing to do. It is also crucial for agricultural development and food security.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    The state of food and agriculture, 2008
    Biofuels: prospects, risks and opportunities
    2008
    Also available in:
     Show more
    The State of Food and Agriculture 2008 explores the implications of the rapid recent growth in production of biofuels based on agricultural commodities. The boom in liquid biofuels has been largely induced by policies in developed countries, based on their expected positive contributions to climate-change mitigation, energy security and agricultural development. The growing demand for agricultural commodities for the production of biofuels is having significant repercussions on agricultural markets, and concerns are mounting over their negative impact on the food security of millions of people across the world. At the same time, the environmental impacts of biofuels are also coming under closer scrutiny. But biofuels also offer the opportunity for agricultural and rural development – if appropriate policies and investments are put in place. This report reviews the current state of the debate and the available evidence on these critical questions. It finds that concerted efforts to reform policies and invest in agriculture will be essential if the risks associated with biofuels are to be reduced, and the opportunities more widely shared.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Book (stand-alone)
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.