Livestock experts gather in Mongolia to discuss sustainability issues

On Monday, the 8th MultiStakeholder Partnership meeting of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) commenced with livestock experts from 34 countries convening to discuss sustainability in the livestock sector.

An expected 250 participants from all five continents will address global livestock sector sustainability. The chosen topic for the meeting -- “livestock on the move” – relates to the dynamics of the sector in a rapidly changing environment, and also to the ever-increasing movements of sector elements. These include, for example, seasonal animal movements towards feed resources; movement and trade of inputs to production and of products; and flow of nutrients, carbon microorganisms and value addition.

The conference, which has been continuing for five days will discuss four themes -- sustainability, food and nutrition security; livelihoods and growth; health and animal welfare; and climate and natural resource use.

"I am confident that those gathered here today will make many important decisions to increase livestock production that are well suited to climate conditions, rangeland, natural resources and ecosystems of the countries which are developing nomadic herding," Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry B.Batzorig said at the opening ceremony.

The meeting is co-organized by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the GASL.