Context:

Recently, the 2nd Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation was held from September 29 to October 1, 2025, at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy. Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh from India participated in the conference.  

Objectives of the conference:

·         To share best practices, innovations, and experiences in livestock transformation.

·         To promote actionable solutions for making the livestock sector more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.

·         To align livestock systems with FAO’s vision of “Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life”.

·         To support the development of a Global Plan of Action for sustainable livestock transformation.

Key outcomes:

During the summit, FAO Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership launched two new technical guidelines:

• • Ecosystem Services Assessment in Livestock Agroecosystems
  • Role of Livestock in Circular Bioeconomy Systems

This guideline provides a structured framework to identify and quantify ecosystem services from livestock agroecosystems beyond food production. These services include:

• • Carbon sequestration
  • Water regulation
  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Support for livelihoods and nutrition
  • Preservation of cultural landscapes and heritage

 About livestock sector in India:

• • India has the world’s largest livestock population, with 535.78 million animals (20th Livestock Census, 2019).
  • The livestock sector has recorded an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.77% in recent years, contributing 31% to agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) and 5.5% to national GDP.
  • Provides employment to about 8.8% of the population, particularly supporting small and marginal farmers and rural women.
  • Ensures nutritional security through protein-rich products like milk, eggs, and meat. The dairy sector accounts for two-thirds of livestock output value.
  • Livestock exports (buffalo meat, dairy, poultry) reached USD 3.64 billion (April-Dec 2024), boosting foreign exchange earnings.
  •  India is the world’s largest milk producer, contributing 24.76% of global milk output.

Key Livestock Initiatives in India

• • National Livestock Mission (NLM): Supports entrepreneurship, breed improvement, and feed development for various animals, including camels and horses.
  • Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): Focuses on conserving indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation, and increasing milk production through AI and IVF technologies.
  • Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF): A $3.5 billion fund for investments in dairy, breeding, feed plants, and meat processing.
  • National Digital Livestock Mission – Bharat Pashudhan: Creates digital IDs for livestock to improve traceability and disease detection.
  • National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): Strengthens milk testing, chilling infrastructure, and market access for dairy farmers.

Conclusion:

The 2nd Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation marked a significant step towards achieving sustainable livestock practices. By fostering change, scaling innovations, and driving solutions, the conference provided a roadmap for transforming the livestock sector. With its focus on practical solutions and collaboration, the conference set the stage for a more sustainable and resilient livestock industry