Envisioning the future of Africa’s Livestock and Fisheries sectors

As the demand for animal-sourced foods increases in countries across Africa, policy makers in livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors across the continent are having to grapple with the challenges of meeting this demand in ways that account for rapid changes happening in global markets, as well as major transformations occurring within their agrifood systems - including due to climate change. In this side event, experts made up of policy makers, policy implementers, development partners, researchers, livestock and fish value chain stakeholders, and others, reflected on how the consumption, production, and international trade of animal-sourced foods are evolving in Africa’s subregions.
A facilitated discussion among participants highlighted factors affecting long term trends in animal-sourced food systems along social, technological, economic, environmental, political, and values dimensions. The discussions focused on the influence of these factors and their resulting trends on how investments are made or can be made in Africa’s livestock and fisheries sectors. The session explored the role of science and evidence in guiding public and private sector investments in ways that incorporate anticipations about coming changes in the livestock and fish sectors over the short and long term. Experience was drawn from recent work incorporating scenarios (or future thinking) in the development of a Livestock Master Plan for Nigeria. This presentation guided the discussions at the side event.