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Exploring the landscape of livestock 'Facts'
G R Salmon1, M MacLeod2, J R Claxton3
1Supporting Evidence-Based Interventions (SEBI), The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
Global Food Security
|June 23, 2020
Summary
Livestock offer benefits like livelihoods and resilience, especially in low-income countries, but face scrutiny over environmental and health impacts. Nuanced understanding of livestock
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Sociology
Background:
- Livestock's role in human well-being is debated, with concerns over consumption impacts in high-income nations.
- Livestock are crucial for livelihoods, nutrient supply, and cultural roles, particularly for smallholders in low-income countries.
- Existing discourse on livestock often features polarized opinions, potentially distorted by vested interests or misinterpretation of evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate commonly accepted 'facts' about livestock.
- To analyze the provenance and context of these 'facts'.
- To promote a nuanced understanding of livestock's role in global sustainable diets.
Main Methods:
- The Livestock Fact Check project, part of the Livestock Data for Decisions community of practice.
- Exploration of the origins and evidence base for common livestock-related assertions.
- Analysis of diverse viewpoints within the livestock sector.
Main Results:
- Many commonly held 'facts' about livestock require careful examination of their provenance and context.
- Misinterpretation or decontextualization of evidence poses risks in the livestock discourse.
- The livestock sector is diverse, leading to varied perspectives on its impacts.
Conclusions:
- A nuanced appreciation of global livestock systems is essential.
- Judgments on livestock's role in sustainable diets must be based on clear, well-interpreted information.
- Addressing the complexities of livestock's contribution to human well-being requires evidence-based discourse.
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