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Integrating policies for the management of animal genetic resources with demand for livestock products and environmental sustainability1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

H.D. Blackburn
H.D. Blackburn
Affiliation:
National Animal Germplasm Program, National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, ARS, USDA, Fort Collins,, CO 80521 USA
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Summary

Global recognition of the need to conserve animal genetic resources comes at a time when the livestock sector faces significant challenges in meeting the growing demand for livestock products and the mitigation of negative environmental impacts caused by livestock. In developing regions it would seem that portions of the growing demand for livestock products are being met by increasing animal numbers instead of achieving increases in production efficiency. Concurrently, extensive grazing and mixed crop-livestock production systems are largely responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of environmental degradation. Under the growing demand and environmental sustainability rubric there exists a need to garner maximum benefit from diverse animal genetic resources. These three areas; growing demand on animal products, environmental issues, and conservation of AnGR form a nexus that national policies must simultaneously consider. To advance this integration, a policy framework is proposed that consists of incentives to produce, a secure resource base (e.g., genetic resources, land tenure) and access to markets for outputs and inputs including technology. Within this framework a set of potential policies are suggested that promote conservation, livestock sector growth and environmental sustainability.

Résumé

La reconnaissance au niveau mondial du besoin de conserver les ressources génétiques animales arrive à un moment où le secteur de l'élevage se trouve à faire face à des défis importants tels que l'augmentation de la demande de produits et comment atténuer l'impact négatif sur le milieu du à l'élevage. Dans les régions développées il semblerait qu'une partie de l'augmentation de la demande de produits puisse être obtenue avec l'augmentation du nombre d'animaux au lieu d'essayer d'augmenter l'efficacité de la production. Au contraire, le pâturage extensif et les systèmes mixtes de production agriculture-élevage sont en grande partie responsables des émission de gaz de serre et d'autres formes de dégradation du milieu. Si nous considérons les normes au sujet de l'augmentation de la demande et la durabilité de l'environnement il faudra obtenir un bénéfice maximum des différentes ressources génétiques animales. Les trois domaines sont:

1. L'augmentation de la demande de produits d'origine animale.

2. Les problèmes de l'environnement.

3. La conservation des formes de AnGR comme point d'union pour les politiques nationales. Pour atteindre cette intégration il est nécessaire de créer un cadre politique qui prévoit des primes à la production, une ressources de base fiable (p.e. ressources génétique, propriété de la terre) et un accès aux marchés pour les produits et la technologie. Dans ce cadre on suggère d'inclure un ensemble de normes potentielles pour promouvoir la conservation, la croissance du secteur élevage et la durabilité du milieu.

Resumen

El reconocimiento mundial sobre la necesidad de conservar los recursos zoogenéticos llega en un momento en que el sector ganadero se enfrenta a desafíos importantes como el incremento de la demanda de productos ganaderos y cómo atenuar los impactos negativos sobre el ambiente debidos a la ganadería. En las regiones desarrolladas podría parecer que una parte del aumento de la demanda de productos se podría conseguir con el incremento del número de animales en vez de intentar aumentar la eficacia de producción. Al revés, el pastoreo extensivo y los sistemas mixtos de producción agricultura-ganadería son en gran parte responsables de las emisiones de gas y otras formas de degrado ambiental. Bajo las normas de incremento de la demanda y sostenibilidad ambiental existe la necesidad de conseguir un beneficio máximo de los distintos recursos zoogenéticos. Estas tres áreas son:

1. Incremento de la demanda de productos animales.

2. Problemas ambientales.

3. Conservación de formas de AnGR como nexo para las políticas nacionales.

Para alcanzar esta integración es necesario un marco político que consiste en incentivos a la producción, un recurso de base seguro (p.e. recursos genéticos, propiedad del terreno) y un acceso a los mercados para los productos y la tecnología. Dentro de este marco se sugiere incluir un conjunto de políticas potenciales que promuevan la conservación, el crecimiento del sector ganadero y la sostenibilidad ambiental.

Keywords

AwarenessIndustrial production systemsMeat consumptionEnvironmental IssuesAnGR useConsumer demandClimate changeAccess to markets
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 41 , April 2007 , pp. 53 - 64
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2007

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