Sustainability

70% of the people in the world depend on the food produced by small scale farmers, fishers and pastoralists. (ETC Group, 2017) 

“Small-scale livestock systems play a critical role in terms of nutrition, food security and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people around the world.” (FAO, 2023)

“Livestock contributes to the livelihoods and food security of about 1 billion people around the world, particularly the rural poor in developing countries.” (IFAD, 2016)

There are several challenges for smallholder farmers related to climate change: access to animal health services, capacity building and other resources needed to promote good welfare. Improving animal welfare at small-scale livestock keeping is key to enhancing the productivity, safety and quality of animal-source foods, which translates into safer and better livelihoods for animal keepers and their communities. 

Farmers could be the most influential people involved in the food production chain. Therefore, they could make the biggest difference when it comes to the welfare of animals on a day-to-day basis. Thus, it is crucial we recognise their important role in promoting the benefits of positive human-animal relationships, if we are to realise the high welfare potential of small-scale farming. 

Suitable animal welfare assessment and improvement protocols, which consider the socio-cultural, economic and ethical aspects of the local area, are a powerful tool to enhance awareness and build capacities among stakeholders in these production systems. 

References:

ETC Group (2017). Who Will Feed Us? The Industrial Food Chain vs. The Peasant Food Web. 3rd Edition.

FAO Commission on Livestock Development For Latin America And The Caribbean (2023). Role and Challenges of Small-Scale Livestock Farming in Latin America And The Caribbean. 

IFAD (2016). How to do Livestock value chain analysis and project development Sustainable inclusion of smallholders in agricultural value chains.