In developing countries, the livestock sub-sector accounts for more than a third of the agricultural gross domestic product, and rapid growth and transformation of the livestock sector in large parts of the world has generated improvements in incomes and diet for many. But this 'Livestock Revolution' also largely by-passed the poor producers, increased risk from zoonotic diseases and caused environmental damage. It can be expected that population growth, urbanisation, and increasing income will further increase the demand for livestock products in developing countries. To achieve sustainable growth, there is now wide recognition of the need for increased public investments into the agriculture and livestock sectors with specific interventions to ensure that the small producers are not excluded.

Antonio Rota
Senior Technical Adviser International Fund for Agricultural
Development - IFAD
a.rota@ifad.org

Olaf Thieme
Livestock Development Officer Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations - FAO
Olaf.Thieme@fao.org
Rome, Italy