BQI Beacon: Issue #8

Issue 8 covers these topics: 1) Livestock systems everywhere becoming more capitalist. 2) Importance of maintaining local breeds' genetics in LMICs. 3) Mongolia dairy farmers' decisions to reduce GHG emission. 4) Industrial livestock production expanding in Mexico. 5) Food systems priorities in Africa. 6) Chinese investments' role in Argentina animal agriculture.

Academic works featured and their key messages

1. Moritz, Mark, et al. “Transformations in livestock systems: Beyond ranching and pastoralism.”
   

   KEY TAKEAWAY: Livestock systems everywhere are shifting from less to more capitalist forms of production, with serious negative impacts, but capitalism has not conquered all.

2. Barłowska, Joanna, et al. “Significance of local livestock genetic resources in the context of global food security - A review.”
   

   KEY TAKEAWAY: Importance of supporting local low-input extensive animal breeds and maintaining their genetics for food availability in LMICs.

3. Lu, Pengjie, and Guanghua Qiao. “The influence of climate perception and low-carbon awareness on the emission reduction willingness of decision makers in large-scale dairy farming: Evidence from the midwest of Inner Mongolia, China.”
   

   KEY TAKEAWAY: Mongolia dairy farmers' decisions to reduce GHG emissions are influenced by multiple factors including farm scale, and their own subjective norms about climate change.

4. Zaldivar-Gomez, Alejandro, et al. “Multivariate classification of livestock production systems in Mexico.”
   

   KEY TAKEAWAY: Industrial livestock production in Mexico is expanding but it is important to acknowledge the notable presence of extensive systems and regional variations.

5. Dorvlo, Selorm Yaotse, et al. “Transforming African food systems: Perspectives from the Food Systems Network for Africa (FSNet-Africa).”
   

   KEY TAKEAWAY: African food systems priorities: Governance, collaboration, inclusion, indigenous crops and food, innovative and sustainable solutions for smallholder farmers, food loss.

6. Pezzetta, Silvina. “The path towards CAFO in Argentina: The 2020 Argentina-China agreement and the absence of animal welfare considerations in the intensification of animal agriculture.”
   

   KEY TAKEAWAY: Intensification of animal agriculture in Argentina is shaped by various factors, with Chinese investors playing a major role with support from Argentina's government.

Brief mention (non-academic reports)

1. IPES Food. “. . . Challenging the false promise of digital agriculture and cultivating innovation from the ground up.”
2. FAO. “The state of food and agriculture 2025 – Addressing land degradation across landholding scales.”