Transforming Livestock Systems with Better Feeds: A Triple Win for Food and Nutrition Security, Climate Resilience, and Women and Youth Empowerment in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries

In low- and lower-middle-income countries, livestock systems contribute to food and nutritional security, economic growth, and the livelihoods of nearly one billion smallholders. They provide high-quality nutrition through animal-sourced foods, contribute to improved smallholder resilience, and employ more than 873 million people. Yet, persistent feed constraints exacerbated by climate change, land degradation, poor extension, feed markets, and social inequalities continue to undermine livestock productivity. This article explores how feed-focused interventions can deliver a triple win for food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and women and youth empowerment. It reviews the complexity of the regional feed systems and underlying constraints and proposes strategies to improve feed quality, availability, accessibility, and affordability, particularly through greater inclusion of women and youth, who are pivotal to the sector. The article recommends scaling evidence-based strategies to transform feed systems into inclusive and climate-smart systems that optimally enhance livestock productivity, reduce food insecurity, and improve the livelihoods of farmers and pastoralists.