Securing tomorrow’s food: Promoting the sustainable use of farm animal genetic resources: Information for action

Farm animal diversity is vanishing at an alarming rate. As industrial livestock production expands, it is relying on fewer and fewer breeds. Already, 15% of the world’s livestock and poultry breeds are extinct, and another 35% are endangered. We are coming to depend on a livestock population with a dangerously narrow genetic base: because of their genetic uniformity, huge numbers of animals could be wiped out by a new disease.
Locally adapted animal breeds carry genetic material of immense value. These breeds must be conserved. The only realistic way to do so is by maintaining the production systems they are part of – by supporting the small farmers and pastoralists who manage these animals.
This dossier is intended for decision-makers and field staff from governmental and non-governmental institutions and organisations working on agriculture, livestock production, natural resources management, food security and other aspects of rural development in the South. The goal is to stimulate policy makers, project staff and members of grassroots organisations to support in their policies and actions the sustainable use and community-based management of farm animal breeds.

  • Title: Securing tomorrow's food: Promoting the sustainable use of farm animal genetic resources: Information for action
  • Author: LPP / League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development and Local Livestock for Empowerment (LIFE) Network / 2002
  • Description: http://www.pastoralpeoples.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Securing_tomorrows_food.pdf
  • Format: Zip
  • Pages: 94

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    Livestock diversity: Keepers’ rights, shared benefits and pro-poor policies

    Documentation of a workshop with NGOs, herders, scientists, and FAO. Organised by the League for Pastoral Peoples and German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, in cooperation with CENESTA/CEESP

    1. It is time to initiate a treaty on livestock genetic resources
    2. Formal legal recognition of pastoralists’ and livestock keepers’ rights is due
    3. Pastoralist livelihoods in marginal areas need to be protected and improved
    4. An international convention is needed
    5. Differences and similarities between plant and animal genetic resources for food and agriculture
    6. Definition matters
  • Title: Livestock diversity: Keepers' rights, shared benefits and pro-poor policies
  • Author: League for Pastoral Peoples and German NGO Forum on Environment and Development / German NGO Forum on Environment and Development / 2002
  • Description: Documentation of a workshop with NGOs, herders, scientists, and FAO. Organised by the League for Pastoral Peoples and German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, in cooperation with CENESTA/CEESP
  • Format: Zip
  • Pages: 45

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    Intellectual property rights regime necessary for traditional livestock raisers

    This article discusses the need to recognize the intellectual property rights of pastoralists and other traditional domestic animal raisers in the light of the growing interest in making use of the genetic traits of indigenous livestock breeds.

  • Title: Intellectual property rights regime necessary for traditional livestock raisers
  • Author: Ilse Köhler-Rollefson / Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor / 2001
  • Description:
  • Format: Pdf
  • Pages: 4

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