Review: Impact of Food and Climate Change on Pastoral Industries

Abstract

The industrialization of agriculture based on inexpensive fossil fuels allowed for unprecedented levels of food production and population growth, but simultaneously contributed to a threat to food systems and population well-being: climate change. This paper analyses the impacts and adaptations available to the world's pastoral production systems including potential mitigation and adaptation strategies. The current food system is under pressure to satisfy the needs of the increasing population with already limited natural resources particularly land and water, and now increasingly under pressure due to climate change. Increasing incomes from greater number of people have increased demand for animal source foods. As a result, domestic livestock numbers are rising, particularly in low-income countries with greater dependence on pasture for animal feed. The carrying capacity of pastured land is limited; therefore, increasing animal numbers may cause environmental degradation and loss of productivity from pastoral industries. In some countries, the increasing demand has prompted some to burn forestlands and convert them into crop production, and after the land is degraded into pasture mainly for raising large ruminants. Changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and ambient temperatures are predicted to make a number of changes to the growth of herbage for animals. Several strategies can be implemented to optimize the pasture-based food system, including choosing the right breed, improving reproductive efficiency, improving grazing management, and maintaining an animal feed base. The global challenge is to meet our food production needs while sustaining our environment. Producers in all income categories have a role to play in adapting to these challenges.

Physico-Chemical Characterization of water and soil in areas of high pastoral activity: the Case of Belel, Adamawa Cameroon

“…These results show that animal manure contributes significantly to soil enrichment. The levels obtained are similar to those obtained by [33] on a non-enriched soil (80 mg/kg). This low presence of ammonia nitrogen in our soils can be explained by its intense transformation into nitrate under the action of nitrifying bacteria on the one hand, and on the other hand, ammonia nitrogen could also come from the transformation of organic matter deposited under the action of micro-organisms [32] 135 JCBPS; Section D; November 2022 to January 2023, Vol.…”

Genomic signatures for drylands adaptation at gene-rich regions in African zebu cattle

“…In addition to extreme temperatures, other harsh conditions of the African dryland areas include food and water shortages [ 61 , 62 ]. Indeed, we identified a unique Sudanese zebu selective sweep on chromosome 16.…”

A Narrative Review of Alternative Protein Sources: Highlights on Meat, Fish, Egg and Dairy Analogues

“…Fish consumption is recommended by institutions such as FAO and WHO, due to its high nutritional value [ 183 ]. However, excessive consumption has negative consequences on the ecosystem, such as the loss of species biodiversity, environmental damage and diseases of marine species [ 184 , 185 , 186 ]. In addition, the presence of heavy metals that accumulate in fish due to sea pollution is an added factor that leads to the development of efforts to find alternative solutions [ 26 ].…”