The role of livestock in circular bioeconomy systems at international symposium in Italy
The FAO Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership presented its upcoming guidelines on “The role of livestock in circular bioeconomy systems” during the opening of the 75th European Association for Animal Production (EAAP) Annual Meeting.
During his presentation, Philippe Becquet, one of the authors of the new guidelines, emphasized their overarching goal: providing a robust and comprehensive framework to enhance circularity within the livestock sector. Becquet highlighted how these guidelines underscore the synergies, trade-offs, and interactions within livestock systems in a circular bioeconomy, focusing on the sector's essential role in promoting sustainable practices.
Background
As global population continues to grow and food demand intensify, the livestock sector remains central to ensuring food and nutrition security. Circular bioeconomy approaches, which focus on efficient livestock production, aim to reduce resource consumption by promoting the sustainable reuse and recycling of waste and residues, optimizing the use of both materials and energy.
While recent bioeconomy research has delved into various recovery options for livestock residues and agrifood industry waste, a crucial gap remains: the absence of a comprehensive database and standardized methodologies to assess the livestock sector's full contribution to circular bioeconomy strategies. The upcoming FAO LEAP guidelines address this gap by offering a unified approach to assess the environmental impacts of different recovery options and provide crucial insights into how the livestock sector can support circular bioeconomy objectives.
About the event
The 75th EAAP Annual Meeting, held under the theme "Global quality: Environment, animals, food”, brought together leading experts and professionals in animal science from around the world. The congress featured multiple scientific sessions, where the latest cutting-edge research in animal science was presented, discussed, and explored.
The event attracted a diverse audience of researchers, academics, and industry leaders, with specialties ranging from genetics and nutrition to animal health and welfare. The meeting served as a platform to exchange ideas and advance scientific understanding in critical areas of livestock sustainability, including a variety of animal species, such as cattle, sheep, pigs, and even insects.
The new FAO LEAP guidelines are expected to become an essential resource for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders alike, helping them navigate the complex challenges of creating a sustainable circular bioeconomy.
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