Director-General advocates for sustainable livestock sector at FAO Livestock Week
©FAO/Giulio Napolitano
FAO News 02/10/2025
Rome – Director-General QU Dongyu addressed significant global livestock events during the Livestock Week held at FAO headquarters from 29 September to 3 October, in which he reinforced FAO’s commitment to achieving a sustainable livestock sector.
The week started with the Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, where the Director-General highlighted the socioeconomic importance of the livestock sector, which supports the livelihoods of around 1.3 billion people globally and makes up 40 percent of the world's agricultural GDP, while contributing significantly to food security and nutrition.
Qu also noted that the sector faces considerable challenges, including its environmental impact alongside public health risks and animal welfare concerns.
“But we also have the solutions,” said the Director-General, citing examples of farms around the world where manure is converted into clean energy, by-products are repurposed into new materials, and animals are raised in healthy, humane conditions.
“The lesson is clear – and science confirms it: When good practices are adopted, livestock systems can be truly sustainable,” Qu said.
In his closing remarks, the Director-General announced a series of commitments the organization will implement as a result of the Conference.
Among the key initiatives, FAO will launch two new Global Hubs: the One Health Knowledge and Intelligence Hub, and the Sustainable Livestock Transformation Innovation Hub.
FAO will also introduce the Global Challenge Programme for Transboundary Animal Diseases – a bold new business model to protect animal health, support livestock production, and safeguard livelihoods worldwide.
A network of FAO Reference Centres for Animal Feed will be established to unlock the full potential of the animal feed sector, particularly in developing countries.
And in 2026, FAO will host the first-ever Global Conference on One Health in Agrifood Systems to showcase how One Health connects animal, human, plant, soil, environmental health, food safety, and nutrition.
Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators
On 2 October, the Director-General officially opened the 2025 edition of the Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators, a two-day meeting held at FAO headquarters in Rome.
In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of collective action to increase fodder and feed production, manage grasslands sustainably, and safeguard landscapes, biodiversity, and ecosystem services - areas where livestock and pastoralists play a vital role for both people and the planet.
Qu also addressed the Sustainable Livestock CEO Summit, where he underscored the critical role of the private sector in transforming global livestock systems.
Speaking to CEOs gathered in Rome, the Director-General highlighted that their decisions have far-reaching impacts on the planet’s soil, water, air, and the health of both people and animals. He stressed that FAO’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy is designed to co-create solutions with tangible business, social, and environmental benefits. The strategy also promotes science-based sustainable practices, supports innovation, and fosters enabling policies and investments.
A key aspect of FAO's collaboration with the private sector is to increase the inclusivity of value chains, the Director-General said. That is why providing support and knowledge to small and medium enterprises, the backbone of the livestock sector in many countries, plays a key role at FAO.
Views: 32