Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Slow Food has been actively working to promote a holistic approach to food and agriculture for many years and good animal welfare practices are a fundamental part of this. They are important not only because they respect animals as sentient beings, but also because they benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.

Slow Food believes that animals used for food should be given a life free of pain and fear in which they are free to express their natural behaviors.

Each year the welfare of billions of animals raised for their meat, milk and eggs for human consumption is seriously compromised. Animal farming throughout the world has become increasingly intensive, where maximum production and profits are prioritized, and animals are treated as commodities.

As the consumption of animal products continues to increase, it has become necessary to confront these problems in order to safeguard the health of citizens and the environment, and guarantee that small-scale farmers can thrive in their activities while ensuring that the welfare of animals is respected.

Animals are sentient beings – they can suffer pain and distress or be happy and enjoy life. We therefore have a responsibility to ensure they are kept in humane farming systems, allowed to live a life free from pain and mental distress and able to express their natural behaviors, and are slaughtered humanely.

Slow Food believes that the way we treat farm animals is intricately linked to our general wellbeing and that of the planet. 

• Animal welfare is of crucial importance to the approximately 1 billion people (FAO) that depend on animals as a source of income and food: A secure supply of food depends on the health and productivity of animals, which in turn depend on the care and nutrition these animals receive.
  
   
• Factory farms reduce animals to mere machines, subject to confinement and mutilations. These conditions make animals more prone to diseases and as a result, they are routinely injected with vaccines and antibiotics. This extensive use of antibiotics poses a risk to those who consume their meat and contributes to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria: a growing public health concern.

Making animal welfare a priority is an added value for both small- and large-scale farmers. Providing good living conditions for animals results in better health and less stress for the animals, and subsequently fewer diseases and a reduced use of drugs, lower production costs and improved product quality in terms of both taste and nutrition.

Animals pay a harsh price in the current system. Factory farms reduce animals to mere machines and commodities. They are packed into tight cages or confined to small spaces where they spend a short but painful life. During this time they are often subjected to mutilations, their beaks are trimmed, tails docked and horns removed in order to avoid injuring themselves or their companions due to the stresses of being condemned to a life less than natural. After having spent the entirety of their lives in these conditions, they are then transported to slaughterhouses, often travelling for many hours at a time and in gruelling conditions. They feel the stresses and strains of not being able to express their natural behaviours, often left in the hands of people who have not received adequate training, denying them the compassionate and respectful treatment that a sentient being deserves. Living in these conditions makes animals more prone to diseases. In many intensive farms they are therefore routinely injected with vaccines and antibiotics, posing a risk to those who consume their meat.

In recent years, meat consumption has not only remained high in America and Europe, but has consistently grown in China, India and generally within those countries where a wealthy new middle class is emerging alongside a strong demographic increase (the Indian population, for instance, has grown by 200 million inhabitants every 10 years). A global surge in the demand for meat has resulted in a corresponding growth of the industrial production of meat and, subsequently, the concentration of power in the hands of the few large companies that can satisfy the market's demand. The transformation of the animal livestock industry and the production of meat have a long list of negative effects on the environment, human health, animal welfare and social justice.

The animals that we raise for food in turn need to be nourished to grow and produce, but the dietary resources they consume are significantly higher than those they produce in the form of meat, milk and eggs.

We must also recognise an overall increase in awareness regarding our treatment of animals, which has resulted in the adoption of lifestyles that increasingly abandon or limit the consumption of animal products and a rise in stricter animal welfare laws.

Many eminent voices from a range of areas have been working to promote the responsible consumption of meat, by choosing a high quality product and limiting the average intake.  Slow Food believes that promoting a strong animal welfare ethic encourages the consumer to eat less meat because it reduces the amount of meat produced and supports those who raise their animals according to the highest standards.

Every time you shop, remember that your individual choices can influence the positive change of the global food production system. When it comes to meat, you can really leave your mark.

We thank the HLPE and CFS secretariat for this opportunity to provide comments on the draft outline, and look forward to the report.

Please find attached our contribution.

With kind regards

UNSCN Secretariat Team

HLPE e-consultation – Sustainable agricultural development for food security and nutrition, including the role of livestock

Proposed text for the FAO Corporate Response from Strategic Objective 2 “Increase and improve provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry and fisheries in a sustainable manner”

FAO welcomes the selection of the theme “Sustainable agricultural development for food security and nutrition, including the role of livestock” by the CFS41. Sustainability is a critical issue, particularly vibrant as the United Nations are in the process of defining a post-2015 sustainable development agenda. To efficiently contribute to this global momentum, the topic deserves to be comprehensively addressed, and the HLPE report will certainly contribute to give an authoritative perspective to the subject. 

Having examined the scoping paper and the contributions that were offered during the online consultation process, we would like to submit the following suggestions about the report’s scope and the subsequent work.

According to its Member Countries’ recommendations, FAO recently structured its work around five Strategic Objectives. Sustainability is at the core of this new strategic framework as it constitutes Strategic Objective 2 (SO2), that aims at making agriculture, forestry and fisheries more sustainable.

To support and accelerate the transition to sustainable food and agriculture systems, FAO has developed a Common Vision for Sustainable Food and Agriculture (SFA). SFA is now SO2’s flagship and FAO’s corporate approach to sustainability. This framework is being used by FAO in its contributions to SDGs discussions for sustainable agriculture and will serve as the background for the State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report, FAO’s flagship annual publication, in 2016.

Integrating the Organization’s extensive work on sustainability, SFA provides a conceptual framework based on five principles that are valid across agricultural sub-sectors (crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture), and that could contribute to structure the thinking about objectives and elements of sustainable approaches to agriculture:

1. Improving efficiency in the use of resources is crucial to sustainable agriculture
2. Sustainability requires direct action to conserve, protect and enhance natural resources
3. Agriculture that fails to protect and improve rural livelihoods, equity and social well-being is unsustainable
4. Enhanced resilience of people, communities and ecosystems is key to sustainable agriculture
5. Sustainable food and agriculture requires responsible and effective governance mechanisms

FAO would therefore like to propose that the HLPE considers using the framework offered by this report as a tool in its analysis of the issues related to sustainability.

More details on the SFA approach are available at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3940e/index.html.

Clayton Campanhola

Strategic Objective 2 Coordinator

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Views and comments on the proposed draft scope of the HLPE Report on Sustainable agricultural development for food security and nutrition, including the role of livestock from Development of Agricultural Extension

A) Context: drivers and challenges

* The report should address the monitoring of cooking practice for toxic-free

and hygienic food consumption of people.

B) Achieving sustainable agricultural development for food security and

nutrition – three issues that would be interesting to be considered are as follows;

* Contribute budget to small-scale farmers in order to motivate them to change

and fit production into land and market potential

* Invest in production technologies to create sufficient food sources, for

example, water system, agricultural machine etc. for sustainable career and crop yield improvement

* Financially support for developing and sharing knowledge of farming

occupation throughout agricultural chain, such as study visit subsidy scheme

A) Contexte, tendances et défis

1. Le rapport du HLPE présentera d'abord une évaluation critique des projections existantes de la demande future d'aliments, y compris les aliments d'origine animale.

- Définir une période sur au moins 10 ans: d’ici 2025/2028

- En plus du terme « Demande future d’aliments », retenir aussi « BESOINS FUTURS D’ALIMENTS»  « d’ici 2025/2028  »

Le terme « La demande future d’aliments » est un peu restrictif. Car, entre la demande d’aliments dans les pays à faibles savoir et connaissance en alimentation et nutrition et les besoins réels (estimés à partir des besoins énergétiques) la différence est très grande (en termes de quantité et qualité). Et au fur et à mesure que les conditions favorables sont réunies les demandes tendront vers les besoins réels. Mais en attendant, les gouvernements de ces pays se complaisent dans l’autosatisfaction car se disant autosuffisants (soldes vivriers non fiables), alors qu’en réalité il n’en est rien (car les populations allaient demander plus d’aliments si les conditions leur étaient plus favorables).

Il passera  en revue les projections de la FAO et d'autres rapports de prévisions, notamment en ce qui concerne l'augmentation rapide de la demande de denrées alimentaires et d’ aliments pour animaux, d’huiles comestibles et de produits non alimentaires, y compris les hypothèses qui sous-tendent ces projections, sur l'évolution des régimes alimentaires ainsi que sur les pertes et le gaspillage d'aliments, et le commerce.  

Il faudra aussi élaborer des hypothèses relatives à la disparition des sources traditionnelles d’aliments et de produits non alimentaires au niveau local. En effet, ce phénomène qui ne constitue pas un problème pour les populations des villes (ne connaissant pas ou ne consommant pas ou très peu ces produits), est un véritable fléau silencieux et presque invisible qui affecte la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle des ménages ruraux. Ce phénomène efface des mémoires humains et du paysage rural les essences végétales voire animales qui contribuent à son alimentation quotidienne.  

Une évaluation prospective sans perspective sur la contribution de ces cultures et animaux ne sera pas exhaustive.   

1. Le rapport analysera ensuite les incidences (défis et opportunités) de ces tendances sur le plan de :
   1. la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition (en particulier, les carences en nutriments, l'obésité et les maladies chroniques), l’insécurité en rapport avec l’état sanitaire/hygiénique des aliments), la réalisation du droit à l'alimentation, en faisant ressortir les considérations liées aux différences entre les sexes, ainsi qu’aux inégalités;
   2. la réalisation du devoir individuel de créer de la valeur alimentaire en faisant ressortir la responsabilité du consommateur d’être aussi producteur de produits vivriers agricoles (un tout petit peu significatif chez soi, à son lieu de vie ou de travail, en tout là où cela est possible); 
   3. l'accès à la terre et aux ressources naturelles en insistant sur la disponibilité et l’accès à plus de terres aménagées avec maîtrise de l’eau (eaux de surface et eaux souterraines) pour l’irrigation en toute période de l’année (surtout en période sèche) ainsi que sur la préservation des essences végétales et animales  en voie de disparition;
   4. l'accroissement de la production et de la productivité agricoles ;
   5. le développement économique ;
   6. la santé de l'environnement et des écosystèmes, y compris le changement climatique et la biodiversité.

b) Parvenir à un développement agricole durable propice à la sécurité alimentaire et à la nutrition

1. À la lumière de ces projections, le rapport passera en revue les défis en termes de durabilité auxquels sont confrontés  les systèmes alimentaires et agricoles basés sur les cultures et l'élevage, y compris le pastoralisme, dans différents types d’agroécosystèmes et pour différentes tailles d’exploitations intégrant les menaces pour la durabilité de ces systèmes, notamment les maladies animales, les ravageurs, la faible capacité d’entreposage individuel (en rapport avec l'accroissement de la production et de la productivité agricoles)  et les maladies ainsi que les besoins énergétiques.
2. Le rapport déterminera les objectifs et les éléments d'approches durables de l'agriculture, y compris l'élevage, de façon à garantir la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition pour tous sans compromettre les bases économiques, environnementales et sociales de la sécurité alimentaire et de la nutrition des générations suivantes. Il identifiera également des priorités critiques (« points de basculement » qu'il faut absolument aborder et des objectifs essentiels. Il intègrera les trois dimensions de la durabilité et considérera les outils de mesure pertinents.
3. Le rapport analysera les voies à suivre pour parvenir à des systèmes durables fondés sur les cultures et sur l’élevage, ainsi que les  options permettant de gérer la transition vers des systèmes durables :
   1. étant donné le rôle joué par l’élevage comme moteur du développement de l'agriculture et du secteur alimentaire, en tant que levier de changements économiques, sociaux et environnementaux majeurs dans les systèmes alimentaires du monde entier, une attention particulière sera accordée au rôle de l’élevage dans ces voies à suivre
   2. l’étude considèrera les pratiques, y compris les pratiques  agroécologiques, la diversification à tous les niveaux, ainsi que des perspectives plus larges allant des chaînes alimentaires aux systèmes alimentaires (y compris les modèles de consommation), les approches locales vis-à-vis des approches globales, le commerce et l'investissement.
   3. Le rapport définira les obstacles au changement, y compris en ce qui concerne les institutions, les organisations, les politiques et la gouvernance, et les moyens potentiels pour les surmonter.
   4. Il abordera également l'environnement propice requis pour déclencher ou accompagner la transition : le rôle des politiques publiques et des outils pour promouvoir et faciliter la transition vers des systèmes durables :      

Grâce aux :

i) Innovations en termes de :

• Produits
• Services
• Processus
• Organisations
• Politiques 

ii) Responsabilisation comme matrice pédagogique et politique

Caricature N°1 du citadin: J’ai bien travaillé et j’ai beaucoup, et beaucoup d’argent. Où est la nourriture ?

Caricature N°2 du promoteur agricole : J’ai bien travaillé et j’ai assez à manger. Son argent aussi m’intéresse. Où est l’argent ?

Ciblée :

• Responsabilité des individus et de l’unité familiale.
• Responsabilité des communautés locales : Collectivités politiques locales ; organisations et associations locales ; institutions publiques locales ou déconcentrées.
• Responsabilité des gouvernements centraux.
• Responsabilité des bailleurs et partenaires techniques et financiers au niveau pays, région, continent.
• Responsabilité des pays du G7 ou G8.

Conclusions et recommandations en termes de politiques et d’actions (Produits, Services, Processus, Organisations).

Dear Madam/Sir, please find attached submission from CARE International to the draft scope of work for the HLPE report on Sustainable Agricultural Development. Thank you

There is a rising trend on the need to promote local food systems as more people will like to know more about what they consume and where they originate from. This is also in line with sustainability, the need to mitigate the effects of global warming and lower carbon footprints.

To ensure food security demands input from various sources and an awareness that will ensure that various stakeholders work in tandem. In order to address nutrient deficiency will require eating the right amount and a good balance of nutrients that will promote health. The demand for protein intake has been linked to economical prosperity - by promoting livestock at local and family levels will help to satisfy this demand. Another important source of protein are insects which are not popular in Western diets but can help to alleviate the burden on animal sourced protein.

A good mix of various solutions to address food security and nutrition are needed in the nearest future. This calls for innovative food product development right from the farm to the table. Pests and diseases have negative impacts on crop yield and can reduce livestock. Global warming will lead to more pests and diseases and they are a big challenge to food security and nutrition.

The sustainability challenges for crop and livestock-based agricultural and food systems, including pastoral systems, in diverse agro-ecosystems and for various farm sizes, taking account of threats to the sustainability of these systems, including animal diseases, pest and diseases, and energy needs.

An agricultural system is sustainable when it is resilient and makes use of renewable sources of inputs and it adopts techniques which do not adversely affect the environment. Agricultural systems consisting of crops and livestock are characteristic of many small holders in developing countries. This provides a means of securing food and nutrition for the farming household as well as a providing a source of income. However, sustainability challenges in this system arise when input-output management practices are not utilised efficiently. For instance, when animal waste (such as cow dung), which should be applied to improve soil fertility and structure is burnt as a source of cooking energy because of the lack of wood or when plant remains which should be left as mulch are fed to animals whose dung is not return to the land, there is an interruption in the sustainability cycle which the crop-livestock system should support. Also when inputs are genetically modified and patented making farmers unable replant seed, but continuously depend on seed producing companies, there may be no sustainability and resilience, and shocks such as failed yield will adversely affect this system.

Another progressive challenge, as experienced in Nigeria, is that of conflict between pastoralist from Niger, Chad and Cameroon and Nigerian smallholder farmers, where on many occasions, cattle are left to graze on farmers’ fields resulting in tremendously loss of yield and death of farmer and/or pastoralist in some cases. There animals cross boarders and may be carriers of various diseases which may cause harm to crops, livestock as well as humans. The most affected are the smallholder farmers who cannot secure enough capital to build fences around their fields.

Another threat to the sustainability of the crop-livestock system is climate change. Livestock such as cattle produce methane which contributes to green house gases, cutting down trees to establish farms also contributes to the accumulation of green house gases. Adopting climate smart agriculture systems such reforestation, integrated agricultural systems such as the rice-fish mixed farming and alley cropping (Silvopasture) can ensure the recycling of nutrients within the crop-livestock system.

Pathways towards sustainable crop and livestock-based systems, and options for managing the transition to sustainable systems:

Most traditional farming systems are characterised by a mixed cropping/farming model which provide a family farming with a variety of produce (crops and animal) from a given piece of land. Agro-forestry innovations such as silvopasture provide a mean of integrating crop and livestock whereby livestock are raised together with tree (such as fruit or legume trees) which provides some forage for the livestock, wood for the farmer and fruits for sale. The limitation with this model is its labour intensive nature and the waiting period between the planting of trees and reaping of yields. However, if as part of the transition plan, off farm jobs or alternative annual cropping can be achieved, silvopasture is still a sustainable option.

Barriers to change, including in institutions, organizations, policies and governance, and potential options to overcome them

In implementing any agricultural development programmes or introducing innovations for change, especially in the emerging world, indigenous local systems should not be ignored but strengthen using region specific approaches and not a “one-size-fits-all” model which has been characteristic of most failed agricultural development programmes. Barriers to change result for failure to adopt a participatory approach in bringing about change

A bottom-up approach should be adopted to ensure that these programmes meet the real and felt needs of the recipients and a feedback system should be put in place to monitor progress. Also, farmer-to-farmer learning strategies should be used whereby farmers who are early adopters are used to train others.

Government should not be tasked with the implementation of these programmes but should perform the function of ensuring an enabling environment for NGO and other private organisations to execute such projects.