Sustainable livestock farming and environmental balance are increasingly being explored to reduce methane emissions and achieve a healthy environment. Across Africa, pastoralists and livestock keepers sustain herding systems crucial to nationwide food security, economic growth, and ecological balance. 

Despite being home to more than 85 percent of the world’s pastoralists and livestock keepers, sub-Saharan Africa produces just 2.8 percent of global meat and milk. As a result, one in five Africans does not have adequate access to nutritious foods, including animal source foods.

According to Daouda Ngom, Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition for Senegal, fixing this can be simple: “a single egg, a cup of milk, or a small piece of meat can make all the difference in combating malnutrition.”

Demand for meat and dairy products is forecast to rise 300 percent by 2050, due to the rapidly growing population. Consequently, across the continent, innovative approaches and technologies are being piloted to allow livestock and a healthy environment to coexist.

He emphasizes that evidence proves that we don’t need to sacrifice a healthy environment to meet this rising demand for livestock products.

“There is a need for more investments and collaborations to scale up these breakthroughs,” says Mr. Ngom.

To achieve optimum results, working closely with communities is crucial. For instance, Pastoralists in Senegal move their animals strategically to mimic natural grazing patterns, considering rainfall to prevent overgrazing. This not only improves biodiversity and soil quality, but also reduces dry vegetation and the growing threat of wildfires. 

“To support, the Senegalese government has been providing our pastoralists with detailed weather data and forecasts to help them optimize grazing and manage their livestock more efficiently,” says Mr. Ngom.

Moreover, across Africa, animal health interventions have boosted sustainability in the sector. East Coast fever vaccination programmes have reduced calf mortality up to 95 percent in some countries. More than 400,000 cattle have been saved in the past 25 years, reducing emissions up to 40 percent.

However, some limitations hamper the success of these sustainability projects, such as a lack of knowledge and resources needed to access and implement innovations by pastoralists, smallholders, and subsistence farmers.

“These groups account for the majority of Africa’s livestock keepers and must be reached for these innovations to realize their benefits at scale,” says Ngom.

He highlights that greater collaboration between policymakers, researchers, farmers, and businesses can help stakeholders to better understand the challenges that livestock farmers face and help them increase production without compromising the environment, pointing out the Livestock and Climate Solutions Hub launched by the International Livestock Research Institute, a collaborative initiative aimed to reduce herds’ impact on the environment.

Additionally, Mr. Ngom decries the investment gap in the livestock sector. Despite the clear potential of high returns, the sector is receiving as little as 0.25 percent of overall overseas development assistance as of 2017.

“It must be made financially viable for livestock keepers to invest in technologies and approaches that raise productivity sustainably, or else this mission will not even get off the ground,” says Mr. Ngom.

He highlights that the upcoming World Bank Spring Meetings – where funding for development initiatives will be determined – presents a timely opportunity to kickstart this paradigm shift so that livestock is recognized within green financing frameworks.

Besides, to help encourage funding streams from global investors and climate financing mechanisms, African countries must do their part by incorporating livestock into their national economic development and their climate action plans.

“The solutions are within reach. What is needed now is the will to act decisively and unlock the continent’s unparalleled natural resource potential to build a future where prosperity and sustainability go hand in hand,” says Ngom.

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