SMP 2034 Possibilities for sustainable climate resilient livestock farming in Vietnamese deltas under pressure (BO-69-002-013)

Project: LVVN project

Project Details

Description

Agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors of Vietnam of which livestock is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of agricultural production. Pork and cattle meat production doubled and cow milk production tripled, due to a shift to intensive production systems and an increase in animal numbers. While livestock population increased the sector shifted from extensive to intensified production systems. As a consequence, the livestock sector is currently one of the greatest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam. Dependency of international feed sources and competition of domestic land use for feed and food increased. Additionally, waste production increased beyond recycling capacity, leading to soil and water pollution amongst others.

The country has been ranked among the five countries likely to be most affected by and vulnerable to climate change. The two most important food producing areas are the deltas of Mekong and Red River. Both are currently suffering from salt water intrusion, flooding, and extreme weather events. Livestock production is facing decreasing production outputs due to lower animal performances from heat-stress, emerging and re-emerging diseases and from lower intakes of energy and protein due to decreasing feed availability and quality. Additionally, water resources are degrading as droughts and salinity increases, directly affecting drinking water supply to animals.

Given current challenges of unsustainable livestock production and the effects of climate change it will be difficult for the livestock sector to maintain its current growth rate if its existing development model continues. Additionally, climate resilient livestock farming needs to be introduced, increased and improved, to face the current challenges of food insecurity, environmental degradation and climate change. This project will review the sustainability, productivity, and resource efficiency of livestock production in order to develop production systems appropriate under climate change conditions.

This research is in line with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture (MARD) policy to increase yield, reduce inefficiencies, become climate resilient, improve food safety and empower vulnerable groups in deltas to a food and economic secure future.

 

StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/01/2031/12/20