The document discusses the role of ACIAR in transforming food systems in tropical developing regions through livestock programs, focusing on agricultural productivity, sustainability, and food security. It outlines challenges faced by smallholder livestock producers, including market access, land productivity, and the need for innovative policies and technologies. The document emphasizes the importance of integrating research with development to address the complex relationships between livestock, food systems, and smallholders' futures.

1. Dr Anna Okello
Research Program Manager
Livestock Systems
ACIAR
Informing tomorrow's livestock science: Opportunities to
transform food systems in tropical developing regions
International Tropical Agriculture Conference
Brisbane, Australia, 11-13 November 2019

2. ACIAR
• ACIAR sits in the foreign affairs portfolio funded by Australian ODA budget
• Commissioning model to fund research partnerships in LMICs for the benefit of
partner countries and Australia
• Aim to boost agricultural productivity, sustainability and food security in
smallholder systems in partner countries
• $120+ million in >200 R4D projects in > 30 countries via 10 regional offices
• Individual and institutional capacity building, evaluating impacts and learning
lessons is high priority

3. Three ‘Pillars’ of ACIAR Livestock
Program
1. Climate
• Data for livestock MRV
2. Trade and Market Access
• Biosecurity + production
3. Human health, nutrition and wellbeing
• Food safety, nutrition, socio-cultural
Better evidence of the total societal
contribution of livestock in LMICs is required to
contribute to the global debate on the future
role of livestock

4. Value of the livestock
sector
• Animal-source foods and role in food
systems
• Income generation – improved choice
and diversity
• Added value to crop productivity
• Financial instruments
• Social status
• Gender dimension

5. •Public + private investment
•Difficulty entering formal markets
•‘Bulky’ cashflow
•Poor conversion of ‘non-monetary’
value
Challenges to Smallholder
Livestock Production

6. •Future demand - increased productivity
of land and livestock
•Expanded grazing/mixed systems -
limited potential
•Industrial/commercial production –
different challenges
How does science help define the
opportunities for smallholders?
Sustainable livestock Intensification

7. Transformational Change: Livestock Feed
1. Constraints around free grazing systems
• Restricts dry season cropping (cash or forage )
• Research gap - social, not technical
2. Use of crop residues to feed livestock
• Diversity of residue uses in various contexts and how
livestock integrated
3. Alternate feed sources
• Diversity of SHS = opportunities
• Additives to lower emissions

8. Transformational Change:
Mechanisation
•Movement from draft to cow-calf
systems
•FACASI - “Labour and/or other
sources of farm power
(draught/tractor) limit land productivity
in all study sites”
•How will the livestock landscape
change if the value add from draught
is reducing?

9. Transformational Change: Technology
“Lipa na M-pesa” - example of the power of
transformative technology
• Digital tools - AgriWallet, AgUnity
• Block chain technologies
• Disruptive technologies – genetics, disease

10. •Disconnect between livestock
policy and livestock value systems
•Heed lessons from other
sectors/disciplines
•Policy processes - ask research
questions in a way that decision
makers want them answered
Transformational Change: Policy and
Economics Research

11. • Merging science and development
moves beyond technical research
approaches
• Livestock intensification in smallholder
contexts – Who wins? Who loses? Who
decides?
• How will ‘development’ impact
smallholders’ relationship with livestock
and food systems into the future?
Livestock Research for
Development: ACIAR perspective