Meeting projected food demands by 2050: Understanding and enhancing the role of grazing ruminants

Increasing human populations, urbanization and rising incomes are driving greater demand for animal source food in most parts of the world but especially in developing countries. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) estimates that by 2050 the global per capita demand for meat will increase annually between approximately 6 and 23 kg, particularly in the Latin America-Caribbean and East and South Asia-Pacific regions. (IAASTD, 2009) Recent modeling of livestock populations by FAO and the World Bank depicts large and rapid increases in ruminant populations. The global cattle population is predicted to increase from 1.5 billion to 2.6 billion animals, and the global goat and sheep population from 1.7 billion to 2.7 billion animals between 2000 and 2050. However, the challenge is to increase livestock productivity rather than increase animal numbers that elevate pressure on natural resources and can lead to socio-political conflicts that often result in human migration to safer territories. In addition, climate changes such as elevated temperatures, more frequent and prolonged droughts, and erratic rainfall patterns are impacting traditional ruminant grazing systems and forcing producers to adapt different management practices or lifestyles. Global hunger severity varies with geographic region and prevalent economic security as well as population size. The role of grazing ruminants remains vital to healthier people, healthier economies and a healthier environment.