Towards the future production of animal-sourced food meeting food security , environmental and biodiversity objectives concomitantly

Production of animal-sourced food is important for human wellbeing by its contribution to food security and livelihood support. However, it is also associated with impacts on the environment and on biodiversity. The present research paper provides background information about the various objectives of animal-sourced food production. Various approaches to achieve sustainable livestock development are presented such as innovations with the present systems as an entry point vs systemic changes with a new basis for animal-sourced food production. Case studies from four continents (the beef and sheep sector in New Zealand, the dairy sector in the Netherlands, silvopastoral systems with beef production in Colombia, and dairy production in Kenya) are presented to illustrate the diversity in contexts, in interventions and in outcomes. Most interventions are technological and manegerial interventions that take the present situation as an entry point. All contribute to sustainable debvelopment, but some in some contexts outcomes are not meeting targets and more systemic changes are required. Adoption and implementation of interventions is essential for sustainable livestock development, and therefore the creation of an enabling environment in which farmers, value chain actors and policy makers collaborate, should be the key element of policies and projects towards a future production of animalsourced food meeting food security, environmental and biodiversity objectives concomitantly. 1 Objectives of animal-sourced food production 1.1 Animal-sourced food production and human wellbeing One important role of animal-sourced food (ASF) production for human wellbeing is the contribution to human food security. In high-income countries ASF consumption is often high and also for many people in lowand middle-income countries (LMICs) milk, fish, and eggs are frequent components of the daily diet. Meats, such as beef, pork, mutton, and poultry meat, are consumed less frequently in LMICs, e.g., only at festivities. Rising incomes shift consumption from plant-sourced food to ASF. ASF has a high income elasticity of demand (International Food Policy Research Institute 2017), which implies that an increase in income brings about a considerable increase in demand (Speedy 2003). Human beings can exist when consuming minimal or none ASF, though balancing nutrient supply from these diets requires knowledge and access to a diverse food basket. Such requirements are not met for everybody, e.g., the poor. Hence, for sound nutritional reasons, many countries have included ASF in their National