IFIF, FAO strengthen sustainable livestock production collaboration
Livestock production called vital part of agrifood systems, providing essential nutrients for all and enhanced livelihoods and economic opportunities
The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently held their 22nd annual meeting to further strengthen their collaboration on critical issues to ensure safe, nutritious and sustainable feed and food.
The meeting was officially opened by Thanawat Tiensin, director of animal production and health at FAO, together with Ruud Tijssens, IFIF chairman. They welcomed the IFIF delegates representing over 80% of global compound feed production and reiterated their commitment to this longstanding partnership and agreed to continue to strengthen their work together to tackle the challenges facing the feed and food chain.
Tiensin reaffirmed the importance of “collaboration between the public and private sector, as well as other stakeholders, to support evidence-based key role of the feed and livestock sector in sustainable livestock transformation.”
Tiensin reiterated that livestock production is a vital part of the global agrifood system, “providing essential nutrients for all and enhanced livelihoods and economic opportunities for billions of people around the world.”
He added that achieving sustainable, resilient, inclusive, and efficient sustainable livestock transformation can only be achieved by working together with all stakeholders and called on all members of the International Feed Industry Federation to continue concrete actions to support sustainable livestock transformation.
IFIF chairman Tijssens echoed Tiensen’s sentiments. “The animal feed industry plays a crucial role in supporting sustainable livestock production by leveraging innovation and efficiency. Animal nutrition supports animal health and welfare, as well as productivity and allows farmers to produce more with less and optimize environmental resources.”
Daniela Battaglia, livestock production officer at the Animal Production and Health Division of the FAO, commented, “FAO and IFIF have a long- standing partnership and this meeting addressed a number of critical issues of common interest, such as the need for capacity development to ensure feed safety and the importance of collaborating to tackle the containment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). FAO is committed to work with the private sector and the feed operators and believes that they can valuably contribute to make the livestock and food sectors more responsible and sustainable and to achieve important goals such as public health, and animal health and welfare.”