Resilient and sustainable ruminant production in a changing climate

Issues that dominate ruminant production, especially in the developing countries are low production levels, food loss and waste, environmental sustainability, including climate, biodiversity, and land use. It is therefore essential to develop and address climate-smart agricultural practices that will enhance resilience of the food systems, while it is environmentally friendly and through improved partnerships. The different issues to be addressed are: Building resilient rangelands in dynamic and complex environments in a changing climate. Sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions of low-input livestock systems. Robustness of indigenous animals to climate variability. Resilience and livestock production systems: long-term dynamics Enhancing partnerships in sub-regions for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants. It is important that strategies and decisions to transform climate-smart agricultural practices are based on evidence. The bottom line is that information, strategies, and decisions must be based on (1) scientific evidence, (2) relevant information and (3) the results must be interpreted and applied correctly. Decisions around strategies related to future sustainability must be evidence-based, with relevant indicators. This session will attempt to address these challenges. Speakers Joel Mamabolo, Director of Animal Science and Registrar Animal Production, Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development, South Africa Igshaan Samuels, Specialist Researcher – Rangelands Sciences, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South Africa Anne Mottet, Lead Global Technical Specialist, Livestock, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Italy Michiel Scholtz, Specialist Researcher – Applied Animal Breeding, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South Africa Benoit Dedieu, Director of Research, French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRAE), France Mizeck Chagunda, Director, Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Scotland Julius Tjelele, Research Manager – Rangelands Sciences, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South Africa Azwihangwisi Maiwashe, General Manager – Animal Production, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South Africa Programme 15:00-15:05 – Welcome and Introduction, Linky Makgahlela, ARC. 15:05-15:15 – Open remarks, Joel Mamabolo, DALRRD. Presentations 15:15-15:30 – Building resilient rangelands in dynamic and complex environments in a changing climate, Igshaan Samuels, ARC. 15:30-15:45 – Sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions of low-input livestock systems, Anne Mottet, IFAD. 15:45-16:00 – Robustness of indigenous animals to climate variability, Michiel Scholtz, ARC. 16:00-16:15 – Resilience and livestock production systems: long-term dynamic, Benoit Dedieu, INRAE. 16:15-16:30 – Enhancing partnerships in sub-regions for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants, Mizeck Chagunda, CTLGH. 16:30-17:20 – Panel Discussion, Facilitator, Julius Tjelele, ARC. Open floor for questions 17:20-17:30 – Closure, Azwihangwisi Maiwashe, ARC.