Dr Jimmy Smith

Plenary presentation: Wednesday 2 November

Science-fiction or science-fact? Research for sustainable livestock agri-food systems

In the face of increasingly polarized discourse about the place of livestock in sustainable food systems, this presentation will unpack factors behind this dissonance, which tends to coarsen livestock debates and prevent livestock solutions from arising. While livestock discussions must not shy from uncomfortable truths, they should avoid the binary worlds of absolutes. The great diversity of livestock production, processing and consumption patterns across the world underpin many of today’s apparently conflicting views of the sector. Science-based evidence spanning livestock and the environment, human health and broader livelihood dimensions will be explored to highlight this diversity and how it leads to such conflicting perspectives. A more nuanced understanding of the different roles livestock play in development is essential if future food systems are to meet the immense challenges of the food, nutritional, health and livelihood needs of the world’s growing population, especially those in LMICs, where such growth is fastest. Addressing these challenges requires considerable new science—and science connected through new alliances—to deliver practical, equitable and enduring solutions. Examples of science-based solutions for more sustainable animal agriculture in LMICs—addressing production efficiencies, environmental protection, healthy and nutritional diets and equitable and inclusive growth—will illustrate the big opportunities livestock systems present to help bring about a positive transformation of the world’s food systems.