One Welfare for resilience of livestock production

Executive Summary

Increasing livestock production in a sustainable manner is a challenge for regional livestock production in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Together, Argentina, Chile and Colombia produce around 9.1 million tons of meat for global consumption, demonstrating the role of livestock in contributing to the local economy, food security, poverty reduction and sustainability. Livestock production systems in the three countries can be mixed (cattle and sheep farming), pastoral and extensive, meaning they’re vulnerable to adverse climate scenarios where the resilience of the production systems and the concept of "One Welfare" become relevant. In addition, animal welfare (AW) and sustainable environmental practices are regulated by international and national legislative standards within the framework of each country. INTA, UACh and Agrosavia have been developing and validating process technologies with producers with the aim of raising production rates and improving the resilience of livestock systems in each country. In this context, the aim of the proposal is to contribute to the resilience of livestock systems with a focus on "One Welfare" and by implementing good animal welfare practices for cattle and sheep-based production (GAWP), through a regional co-innovation platform that encourages technological innovations (TI) associated with GAWP. The project expects to reach more than 2,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries from the cattle and sheep production networks in the three countries, as well as contributing knowledge to public policy decision-makers, non-governmental organizations, and the general community of each country. The key development, validation and transfer of technological activities in the territory will be carried out through national agricultural research agencies, government agencies, producer organizations and local universities to reach all the beneficiaries and achieve the objective of the project.

The technological solution

Contribute to the resilience of livestock systems, with a focus on "One Welfare", by implementing good livestock practices for cattle and sheep based on the principles of animal well-being.

Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries: 28 cattle and sheep producers in 28 Agricultural Development Units (ADU) across Argentina (10), Chile (10), and Colombia (8), along with 700 producers who will directly receive training related to innovations in neighboring ADUs. This initiative will also involve 300 private and public technical advisors, 750 young professionals, and 250 students in agricultural and related sciences, in addition to 9 partner organizations. The co-participatory process will promote and ensure active involvement of women.

Indirect beneficiaries: Various stakeholders within the cattle and sheep production network, where approximately 1500 livestock families will be informed about technological innovations (TI) associated with good animal welfare practices for cattle and sheep-based production (GAWP). Additionally, around 30% of governmental organizations and policy decision-makers will utilize these TI to adapt and draft norms and regulations. Furthermore, the general community of each country will be informed about these advancements.

Main donors