CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish: Achieving proof of scale for food security and poverty reduction

CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish:

Achieving proof of scale for food security and poverty reduction

Tom Randolph

G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief ScientistsGuadalajara, Mexico, 25 September 2012

The challenge

Can research accelerate livestock and aquaculture development to benefit the poor?

o Mixed record to date

o Systematic under-investment

o Also related to our research-for-development model?

Focus of new CGIAR Research Program

o Increase productivity of small-scale systems

o ‘by the poor’ poverty reduction

o ‘for the poor’ food security

Correcting perceptions

1. Animal-source foods are a luxury and bad for health, so should not promote

2. Small-scale production and marketing systems are disappearing; sector is quickly industrializing

3. Livestock and aquaculture development will have negative environmental impacts

1. Animal-source foods are a luxury and bad for health, so should not promote

Evidence?

Nearly everyone consumes some animal-source food in their diet, and for good reason:

o Dense sources of critical high-quality nutrients

o Important role of diet diversity

o Enhances bioavailability of micronutrients from plant-based foods

o Improves growth and cognitive development

o So, strategic for nutritionally challenged populations

Need to put health risks into perspective:

Consumption will remain low for the great majority

Rosegrant et al. 2009

2. Small-scale production and marketing systems disappearing; sector quickly industrializing

Evidence?

Nearly a billion people rely on livestock and aquaculture in small-scale production and marketing systems for their livelihoods

Small farms responsible for >50% of livestock production across much of Africa and Asia

3. Livestock and aquaculture development will have negative environmental impacts

Evidence?

Increasing productivity in small-scale systems significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product

Production efficiency – developed countries

8Capper et al., 2009

Increased footprint per animal, but 2/3 less per kg of milk

3. Livestock and aquaculture development will have negative environmental impacts

Evidence?

Increasing productivity in small-scale systems significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product

Small-scale systems more likely to recycle waste

Are we missing an opportunity?

Livestock and Blue Revolutions: accelerating demand in developing countries as urbanization and incomes rise

Industrial systems will provide a large part of the needed increase in supply to cities and the better-off in some places

But the poor will often continue to rely on small-scale production and marketing systems

If able to respond, they could contribute, both increasing supplies and reducing poverty

…and better manage the transition for

many smallholder households

Managing the transition

Estimates for smallholders in Africa and Latin America (Wiggins 2012; Dorward 2009) :

Can 2/3 be enabled to develop into commercial producers, accumulate capital and transition out of agriculture? deeper rural economic growth avoid social disruption

(Johnston et al. 1995)

1/3 Will ‘step up’ to become commercial farmers

1/3 Will ‘step out’ and work for other, go to the city

1/3 Could go either way

But productivity gap remains despite investment in livestock development

Biomass is calculated as inventory x average liveweight. Output is given as carcass weight.Source: (Steinfeld et al 2006)

But productivity gap remains despite investment in livestock development

(2)

Source: (Steinfeld et al 2006)

annual growth rate of aquaculture 2007-2015 needed to satisfy fish demand

source: Cai (2011)

Aquaculture lagging as well

A smarter approach?

Drawing from recent experiences, can we accelerate research to impact?

Objective of new CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish

Goal

More milk, meat and fish by and for the poor

To sustainably increase the productivity of small-scale livestock and fish systems to increase the availability and affordability of animal-source foods for poor consumers and, in doing so, reduce poverty through greater participation by the poor along the whole value chains for animal-source foods.

Consumers

Past research has focused specific aspectsof given value chains, commodities and country.

Consumers

...in Country A

Consumers

Consumers

...in Country D

...in Country C

...in Country B

Basic Idea: Solution-driven R4D to achieve impact

Traditional approach was piecemeal

Strategic L&F CRP Cross-cutting Platforms• Technology Generation• Market Innovation• Targeting & Impact

Consumers

R4D integrated to transform selected value chains In targeted commodities and countries.

Value chain development team + research partners

GLOBAL RESEARCH PUBLIC GOODS

INTERVENTIONS TO SCALE OUT REGIONALLY

#1: Addressing the whole value chain

Major intervention with development partners

Approach: Solution-driven R4D to achieve impact

#2+3: Working directly to impact at scale with development partners

#4 Focus, focus, focus! Working in only 9 target value chains

PIGS

AQUACULTURE

SHEEP & GOATS

DAIRY

Status

Partnership of 4 CGIAR Centers ILRI WorldFish Center CIAT ICARDA

Officially started January 1st, 2012

Engaging with partners

Consolidating ongoing activities, and developing strategy by component and value chain

3-year Budget Envelope by Component

2/3’s funding securedTOTAL Approved = US$99.6m

Thank you

More meat, milk and fish by and for the poorCGIAR Research Program on Livestock and

Fish