- Sustainable livestock production is critical to Africa’s economies and food systems, contributing to GDP and food security.
- Rising incomes and population growth are increasing demand for livestock-derived food, placing pressure on producers to adopt industrial production models.
- The industrial model has negative environmental impacts, is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and marginalises smaller stakeholders by focusing on formal market value chains.
- Investment often overlooks the multifaceted role of livestock, prioritising projects over building institutional frameworks and infrastructure, post-production services over primary production, and commercialisation over enhancing existing systems.
- Philanthropic investment can support the sector by building climate resilience, investing in low-tech solutions for pests and diseases, linking producers to appropriate markets, developing infrastructure, and influencing policies for sustainable livestock production.
Africa, home to 85% of the world’s livestock keepers, relies on livestock for food security, livelihoods, ecological health and national gross domestic product (GDP). Livestock production is mainly driven by pastoralists, agro-pastoralists and small-scale farmers in low-input, rainfed systems. This brief highlights sustainable livestock improvements in Africa, focusing on agroecological approaches that boost diversity, efficiencies and circular economies. Rising demand for livestock products in Africa requires a three- to four-fold increase in production. Industrial production models are, however, unsuitable for Africa’s low-input systems and exacerbate poverty and ecological issues. Supporting existing low-input agroecological systems by overcoming common challenges could enable a regenerative base for livestock producers in Africa. Challenges include limited access to land and water, forage shortages, animal health issues and marginalisation in policies. External drivers like market concentration and climate change, along with cross-cutting issues like gender and resource conflicts, complicate the landscape. Sectoral funding is often inadequate or misdirected. Philanthropic funding could play a key role by supporting investments into integrated animal health and rangeland management, enabling governance systems and appropriate research and market development within an agroecological framework that respects local contexts.
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