Livestock systems across Asia and the Pacific are facing growing pressure from multiple overlapping challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, zoonotic diseases, and rising demand for animal-source foods. At the same time, millions of people across the region continue to experience food insecurity and cannot afford a healthy diet. In response, governments, scientists, and development partners are meeting in Hanoi, Viet Nam, to explore how sustainable livestock transformation can help address these interconnected issues while improving food security, protecting public health, supporting livelihoods, and reducing environmental stress.
More than 150 representatives from governments, international organizations, research institutions, financial institutions, and the private sector are participating in the Regional Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation for Food Systems in Asia and the Pacific. The event is being co-hosted by Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and CIRAD. The conference serves as an important platform for countries and partners to exchange experiences, discuss common concerns, and identify practical pathways for transforming livestock systems across the region.
The timing of the conference is particularly significant because Asia and the Pacific account for nearly 60 percent of the world’s population and around 44 percent of global livestock. As populations grow, urbanization expands, and incomes rise, demand for meat, milk, and other livestock products is increasing rapidly. This creates both opportunities and risks. While livestock remains essential to food systems and rural economies, the sector is also under pressure to meet rising expectations for food that is not only sufficient, but also safe, nutritious, and sustainably produced.
At the same time, livestock systems in the region are both contributing to and being affected by wider environmental and health challenges. They are linked to greenhouse gas emissions and land degradation, while also being highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In addition, the spread of zoonotic diseases and transboundary animal diseases continues to pose major threats to animal health, human health, and food systems. These realities have made it increasingly clear that the future of livestock in the region must be approached through integrated and sustainable strategies.
Opening the conference, Vice Minister Phùng Đức Tiến of Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment emphasized the importance of collective regional action. He highlighted the vital role livestock plays in supporting food security, rural livelihoods, and economic growth across Asia and the Pacific. He also noted that hosting the conference gives countries in the region an opportunity to share experiences and strengthen cooperation in addressing shared challenges related to livestock production and sustainability.
Livestock remains a cornerstone of rural livelihoods in Asia and the Pacific, supporting hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and workers across livestock value chains. It is also a major source of protein and essential micronutrients for many households. However, despite the sector’s importance, food insecurity remains a serious issue. According to FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Alue Dohong, one in five people in the region still faces moderate or severe food insecurity, and many families are unable to afford a healthy diet. He stressed that transforming livestock systems is essential not only for improving access to food, but also for protecting the environment and safeguarding public health.
Experts at the conference noted that many of the necessary solutions already exist. Approaches such as climate-smart livestock practices, the One Health approach, improved feed management, and stronger food safety standards can help reduce environmental impacts while also increasing productivity and resilience. These measures offer practical ways to make livestock systems more efficient, safer, and more sustainable without compromising their role in food production and livelihoods.
Despite the availability of these solutions, scaling them up across the region remains a major challenge. Participants pointed to obstacles such as fragmented policies, limited coordination between countries, and persistent gaps between scientific research, financing, and on-the-ground implementation. These barriers often slow progress and make it difficult to move from pilot initiatives to broader systemic transformation.
Siboniso Moyo, Deputy Director General of ILRI, said the conference is intended to help bridge these gaps by strengthening the connection between science, innovation, and policy action. She emphasized that research on animal health, climate-smart livestock systems, and One Health can help countries improve productivity while better managing disease risks and environmental pressures. Similarly, François Roger, Regional Director for Continental Southeast Asia at CIRAD, underlined the importance of scientific cooperation and research partnerships in designing solutions that are adapted to diverse farming systems and that promote inclusive and sustainable livestock transformation.
By the end of the conference, participants are expected to agree on key priorities for research, policy coordination, and investment that can support a regional pathway toward sustainable livestock transformation. These recommendations are expected to guide future collaboration across Asia and the Pacific and contribute to wider global efforts to transform livestock systems as part of broader transitions toward more sustainable and resilient food systems. Overall, the Hanoi meeting reflects a growing recognition that the future of livestock must balance rising food demand with the urgent need to address climate, health, and environmental pressures.
