Feedback from Switzerland – Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture
Switzerland supports the development of a “voluntary guidance tool for the sustainable enhancement of small-scale livestock productivity”. The worldwide relevance of small-scale livestock producers underlines the importance of such a guidance.
Objectives
The objectives proposed are relevant and therefore worth striving for. They are also comprehensive.
As the voluntary guidance tool mentions the “sustainable enhancement”, a suggestion would be to add a bullet point where the three dimensions (ecological, social and economic) of sustainability are clarified in the context of this guidance.
We would also add a further bullet point, where animal health, breeding and feeding are correlated to good livestock productivity. Although we don't know if this goes under the point “Identifying actions and practices …”.
The point “Identifying themes that would benefit from multi stakeholder engagement at national, regional/ or global level” is appreciated. It is however important to ensure proper and inclusive representation, particularly of producers (women and men), including those which are not well connected (socially, but also in terms of digitalization, fluxes of information).
Nature and scope
As there are major differences between regions of the world, we would recommend to clearly specify it. For example, in Switzerland, most small-scale livestock productions are a secondary activity, whereas in other parts of the world they are a primary activity.
Process
It is positive to undergo an inclusive and participatory process, where all stakeholders are involved. In this case we would like to suggest involving especially the producers as directly as possible and see concretely what their needs are first hand. They are those primarily concerned.
Regarding the process, we would recommend to pay attention to include those stakeholders who do not have access for example to digital tools for participate at an e-consultation or a virtual meeting, and to pay attention to both gender inclusion as well as proper youth representation.
Rafaella Simonetti