http://www.fao.org/europe/events/detail-events/en/c/429132/ Presentation of Eliel Gonzalez Garcia, from Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), on livestock and agroecology. He discussed the redesign of animal production systems. The presentation was prepared and delivered in occasion of the Regional Symposium on Agroecology in Europe and Central Asia, held in Budapest, Hungary on 23-25 November 2016.

1. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
Eliel GONZÁLEZ-GARCÍA, Laurence FORTUN-LAMOTHE, Magali JOUVEN,
Davi SAVIETTO, Marielle THOMAS,
Jean-Yves DOURMAD, Christian DUCROT, Muriel TICHIT and Bertrand DUMONT
INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE (INRA), FRANCE
Agroecology for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems in Europe and Central Asia
Budapest -- November 23-25th, 2016
Livestock and Agroecology
Redesigning animal production systems
in the 21st century

2. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
Climatic Change
Decline of « fossil energy era »
Economical and financial crises
Globalisation
Loss of agricultural land and
biodiversity (ex. erosion,
desertification, wars…)
Context and challenges
World population growth
and demands
Urbanization
Poor population and
hungry
A complex and unfair world…

3. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
AGRICULTURE (& animal production sector) =>
highly concerned!!
In terms of:
- Food and nutrition security
- Land occupation and efficiency of natural resources use
- GHG emission, biodiversity and environment conservation
- Employment generation
- …..
 … BUT Animal sector is urged to change its
practices
 societal pressure: considered a major cause of
world’s most pressing environmental problems
14.5%
of world GHG
emissions
(cattle 9.3%)
35%
of crop production30%
of ice free land
1.3
billion ‘jobs’
Proteins, manure,
draught power,
bank, social roles,
etc.

4. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
 A pertinent and adapted approach for planning future development of
agricultural sector
 => considering major economical, environmental and societal issues
 However, paradoxically, animal sector has been largely ignored until
recently in the agroeocological paradigm (i.e. focus on agricultural sector)
‘The problem lies not in the animals themselves or in the consumption of animal
products, but rather in the way they are integrated into agroecosystems. […]
Understanding the integration of the animal in its agroecosystem provides levers
to ensure sustainable environmental and economic concerns’ (Gliessman 2007)
Agroecology => for a required change

5. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
Contribution of INRA researchers for filling this gap
A multidisciplinary team carried out a deep and consensual work
looking for:
- Defining key principles on which animal production systems
(APS) must focus to achieve the required agroecological
transition
- Proposing the main research issues deserving the attention of
animal science community (a “research agenda”)
By carrying out:
- Updating the state of the art (sounds literature reviews) and taking
into account the “feeling” and position of all stakeholders
- Deep collective reflection (i.e. brainstorming and feedbacks with the
scientific community)

6. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
5) Preserving
biodiversity by
adapting
management
practices
4) Enhancing
diversity for
increasing
system resilience
2) Reducing
inputs by relying
on natural
processes
3) Decreasing
pollution by
optimizing
“metabolic”
functioning of
farming systems
1) Adopting
integrated
management of
animal health
1) Five ecological principles
(Dumont et al., 2013; inspired from Altieri, 2002)
Animal (2013), 7:6, pp 1028–1043
5
principles
Connect, diversify &
integrate!
Be autonomous!
Be clean!
Protect and defend local
natural and cultural richness!

7. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
 Principles may be combined in a range of farming systems
(ruminants, pigs, poultry, aquaculture…) and intensification levels
 IMPORTANT: Agroecology and industrial ecology can be seen as part
of a continuum to ensure livestock farming sustainability without
refusing technological progress!!!:
 role of biotechnology
 Livestock precision farming technologies
Animal (2013), 7:6, pp 1028–1043

8. Animal (2014), 8:8, pp 1382–1393
System
components
Design
of agro-
ecological
systems
Scaling-up
agroecological
APS
Evaluation
2) A RESEARCH AGENDA WITH PRIORITY ISSUES
Increased knowledge will
put the animal sector in a
better position to cope
with the coming
challenges (not yet fully
investigated from an
ecological perspective)

9. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
Design
of agro-
ecological
systems
Evaluation
Scaling-up
agroecological
APS
System
components
Resources
Housing
Animals Economy
Environment
Social
Rules for
scaling-up
Social and
ethical issues
Public
actionEXAMPLE of questions
Animal and flock level
Animal (2014), 8:8, pp 1382–1393

10. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
Animal adaptive capacities: A HIERARCHICAL APPROACH
Transversals, interdisciplinary actions
Genome
Organ
Individual
Flock
Farm-
Environment
Epigenetic marks contributing to adaptations
Improving digestive capacity
Robustness:
- Adaptation to heat stress
- Efficiency in body reserves administration
- Learning processes
- Group selection
Managing for resilience: adapting farming
systems to risks and alias

11. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
Design
of agro-
ecological
systems
Evaluation
Scaling-up
agroecological
APS
System
components
Resources
Housing
Animals Economy
Environment
Social
Rules for
scaling-up
Social and
ethical issues
Public
action
System design
Animal (2014), 8:8, pp 1382–1393

12. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
Valuing interactions among system components
 Propose context-appropriate combinations of plant and animal
components under “human monitoring and control”
 Key words:
 Biomass and
nutrient recycling
 Life cycles
interactions
 System components
complementarities
 Short-, medium and
long-term vision
 quantification of
ecosystem services
 …

13. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
Final considerations
 Agroecology for moving APS toward sustainability:
 a pertinent scientific and operational framework
 implies a more dynamic and integrative perception of
each system component and their interactions
 requiring a paradigm shift: putting ‘Knowledge as central
and key input!
 interdisciplinary research (animal sciences, ecology,
social sciences…) in connection with local initiatives
 Promoting coexistence of AE principles with those of
industrial ecology, urban agriculture…, to reach
common objectives!!!

14. Animal Physiology & Livestock Systems
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Agroecology for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems in Europe and Central Asia
Budapest -- November 23-25th, 2016
Livestock and Agroecology
Redesigning animal production systems
in the 21st century