Use of Livestock Resources for Food Security in the Context of Climate Change

Abstract

Human population having physical social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, at any given time is considered as food secul"ity. Household food security is the application of this concept to the family level, with individuals within households and families as the focus of attention. Livestock contributes greatly to food security because: (1) they are suppliers of global calories, proteins, and essential micronutrients, (:!) they are produced in areas that have difficulty in growing crops, (3) most of the feed for livestock is not appropriate for human consumption, and (4) they provide manure for crop production. The livestock sector contributes to the livelihoods of one billion of the poorest populations in the world and employs mo~e than one billion people especially in developing countries. Livestock products are an important agricultural commidity for global food security because they provide 17% of global kilocalorie consumption and 33% of global protein consumption. There is growing demand for livestock products, and its rapid growth in developing countries has been clearly identified. Worldwide milk production is expected to increase from 664 million tonnes (in 2006) to 1077 million tonnes (by 2050), and meat production will double from 258 to 455 million tonnes. Global climate change is primarily caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that result in warming of the atmosphere. The livestock sectc, r contributes approximate!y 15% of global GHG emissions and thus may increase land degradation, air and water pollution, and declines in biodiversity at the same timt'. Climate change will affect livestock production through competition for natural re:;ources, quantity and quality of feeds, livestock diseases. heat stress and biodiversity loss while the demand for livestock products is expected to increase by 100% in 2050.