Can cattle farming help deliver the SDGs? Rethinking cattle through a systems lens
Cattle farming sits at the heart of one of the most difficult sustainability debates of our time. On the one hand, livestock supports the livelihoods of more than a billion people, contributes significantly to rural economies, and provides nutrient-dense food that is essential for human health. On the other, cattle production is often associated with deforestation, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- crops
- livestock
- Sustainable Agriculture
Can cattle farming help deliver the SDGs? Rethinking cattle through a systems lens
Cattle farming sits at the heart of one of the most difficult sustainability debates of our time. On the one hand, livestock supports the livelihoods of more than a billion people, contributes significantly to rural economies, and provides nutrient-dense food that is essential for human health. On the other, cattle production is often associated with deforestation, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions.
So where does the cattle sector stand in relation to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Is cattle part of the problem – or part of the solution?
As demonstrated in a recent global review on cattle farming and the SDGs, the answer is: both. The challenge lies not in whether cattle farming should exist, but in how it is managed and how its trade-offs are governed.