Multifunctionality and diversity of livestock grazing systems for sustainable food systems throughout the world: Are there learning opportunities for Europe?

Abstract

Throughout the world, livestock grazing systems (LGS) include, and provide livelihoods for, many rural populations. These LGS are represented in a wide variety of agroecological contexts and offer a huge variety of system organization. They contribute to sustainable food systems by providing multiple products including low-cost edible proteins and energy, draft power, outputs (carbon and soil nutrient regulation, landscape and biodiversity maintenance), roles (local development support in harsh environments, contribution to the circular economy) and benefits to populations (revenue, employment, and cultural assets). These multiple functions can be described through a multifunctional conceptual model specified for LGS. Applied to cases in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, the framework enables the assessment of these systems in a holistic manner that includes four dimensions: production, social, environmental and local development. These dimensions and associated local indicators demonstrate the potential important contribution that LGS may deliver to sustainable food systems. Management of interactions and trade-offs between these functions may be improved using such a model in a multi-stakeholder approach. Some of the functions and balance between them might have been overlooked in the consideration of European food systems.

A new perspective on rangelands and pastoralists to reverse their silent demise, which is impacting climate and food supply for billions

“…Raising livestock is a critical but not exclusive activity in rangelands, which offer other social, economic and cultural benefits. This multifunctionality of rangelands is key to their health and productivity and thus demands sound management techniques and committed people implementing them (Ickowicz et al., 2022). Responsible and inclusive rangeland governance is often a key enabling factor to sustainable use and to manage challenges.…”

Livestock grazing systems and sustainable development in the Mediterranean and Tropical areas

“…Box 3.7. Next Wedderburn et al, 2021;Ickowicz et al, 2022). These have led to the identification of several areas of application at a territorial level: decision-making assistance for the development of livestock or sector models, for the choice of activity priorities in favour of territorial development, assistance in the construction of multidisciplinary research teams, etc.…”