FAO’s new global plan paves way for sustainable livestock transformation amid rising demand and environmental pressures

The FAO has approved a pioneering global framework to guide the sustainable evolution of the livestock sector, balancing food security with environmental and health concerns through strategic priorities and worldwide collaboration.

FAO member countries have approved a Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation, a voluntary and non-binding framework that the agency says is the first globally negotiated blueprint devoted to the sector’s transition. The plan was adopted at the 30th session of the Committee on Agriculture in Rome, after two years of consultations with member states.

The framework seeks to balance rising demand for animal products with pressure points including zoonotic disease, antimicrobial resistance, biodiversity loss, emissions and pollution. It is organised around four priorities: food security and nutrition, livelihoods and inclusive growth, animal health through a One Health approach, and the responsible use of natural resources alongside climate and biodiversity goals.

FAO says the plan contains 17 strategic priorities and 85 actions covering the livestock value chain, from feed management and disease control to antimicrobial stewardship, animal welfare, food loss reduction and better market access for producers. Countries are being encouraged to adapt it to national circumstances, with FAO offering technical support and the Sub-Committee on Livestock due to review progress periodically.

For poultry, the implications are direct: feed efficiency, biosecurity, welfare and food safety sit squarely within the new agenda.