Regional conference advances action on sustainable livestock transformation in Asia and the Pacific
As countries in Asia and the Pacific transform food systems to provide safer, more nutritious and sustainable diets, the livestock sector is becoming increasingly important. Rising demand for meat, milk and other animal-source foods is intensifying the pressure to produce more, but this must go hand in hand with environmental conservation, disease management and livelihood improvement.
These challenges were the focus of a regional event held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 24–26 March 2026. The “Sustainable livestock transformation for food systems in Asia and the Pacific” conference brought together more than 200 policymakers, researchers, academics, development partners, financiers and private sector representatives from 25 countries.
Optimization of resources was high on the agenda. As Scott Newman, senior animal health and production officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) pointed out:
“The challenge is not simply producing more livestock but producing more efficiently—improving productivity while using land, water and other resources more sustainably.”
Asia and the Pacific account for nearly 60% of the world’s population and about 44% of its livestock. The sector contributes 18–30% of agricultural GDP in many countries and supports the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers.
However, livestock systems across the region face mounting pressures. Climate change is affecting feed availability, animal productivity and water resources, while transboundary animal diseases such as African swine fever and avian influenza continue to threaten livelihoods, food security and public health. According to Moyo Siboniso, deputy director general, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), these challenges are increasingly interconnected and require stronger collaboration across sectors and countries.
“No single country or institution can address these challenges alone. Sustainable livestock transformation requires coordinated action linking science, policy, investment and local implementation,” she said.
Mapping priorities for development
Panel discussions and working groups at the conference highlighted five priorities in addressing these challenges:
- A One Health approach: Human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected, and cross-sector efforts achieve better outcomes. Strengthening disease surveillance systems, improving coordination and expanding One Health field site models are crucial to disease management.
- Government leadership: Many countries are moving from fragmented smallholder production towards more organized, biosecure, and technologically advanced livestock systems. Strong policies, regulation and public investment play a central role in shaping the disease management, infrastructure and farmer capacity development necessary for this transition.
- Science and innovation: Advances in animal genetics, climate-smart livestock practices, feed management and disease monitoring can improve productivity while reducing environmental impacts.
- Investment and partnerships: Existing innovations can be scaled through public–private partnerships that mobilize capital, enable policies and strengthen value chains across the livestock sector.
- Regional cooperation: Coordinated research, surveillance, and responses are key to addressing livestock disease outbreaks and climate risks across national borders.
Charting pathways for transformation
During the panel sessions, speakers from Cambodia, India, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam shared national strategies for livestock development. Although contexts are different, many countries share similar priorities, including improving animal health systems, modernizing production, strengthening value chains and supporting smallholder farmers to adopt more sustainable and commercially viable livestock systems.
“Sustainable livestock transformation is not only a national priority but a regional and global responsibility, requiring strong cooperation, innovation and capacity building,” vice minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized.
Financing emerged as a major constraint to scaling sustainable livestock systems across the region. Representatives from institutions such as the International Finance Corporation and Asian Development Bank highlighted the need for stronger data systems, clear policies and risk management to attract investment. Blended finance models combining public, private and development funding were identified as a promising approach.
“Many pilot projects demonstrate strong technical solutions, but scaling them requires the right enabling conditions,” said Pham Hoang Van of IFC. “Clear policies, reliable market demand and strong risk management, particularly for biosecurity and disease, are essential to make livestock investments bankable.”
From recommendations to action
The conference concluded with draft recommendations organized around four thematic priorities: One Health in agrifood systems, climate-smart livestock systems, livelihoods and inclusive economic development, and food security and nutrition. The recommendations emphasized the need to integrate livestock more fully into national food systems transformation pathways and move proven innovations from pilot projects to wider adoption at scale.
Specific recommendations included establishing national One Health coordination mechanisms, strengthening integrated disease surveillance systems, developing country-specific livestock emission factors and climate-smart innovation packages, improving food safety along livestock value chains, and increasing support for smallholder farmers through training, digital extension tools and better market access. Participants also highlighted the importance of blended finance models, stronger regional coordination and cross-ministerial collaboration to support sustainable livestock transformation.
“The conference demonstrated that the region already has many proven livestock innovations and successful experiences,” said François Roger, regional director for Continental Southeast Asia at French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). “The priority now is creating the enabling environment, partnerships and investment needed to scale these solutions and ensure they benefit producers, consumers and the environment.”
The framework will be reviewed by the co-hosts before being circulated to conference participants for feedback and endorsement. Major regional and international events will serve as platforms to advance the recommendations.
This event strengthened regional cooperation and advanced a shared vision for sustainable livestock transformation, aligning priorities across science, policy, and finance. Translating the commitments made into investment and implementation will reinforce the livestock sector’s role in building resilient and sustainable food systems.
The conference was co-hosted by Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD).
View all posters from the Marketplace Session at: https://virtualsharing.ilri.org/regional-conference-sustainable-livestock-transformation-food-systems-asia-and-pacific
Media articles about the event:
https://news.fundsforngos.org/2026/03/26/hanoi-summit-tackles-future-of-livestock-in-asia-pacific/
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