Esteemed Secretariat,
We hope this email finds you well and safe.
We have the honor of contacting you concerning the consultation exercise, promoted by the FAO Subcommittee on Livestock, towards the potential elaboration of a document entitled “Voluntary Guidance Tools for the sustainable enhancement of small-scale livestock productivity – Need, scope, Nature, and Development Process”.
In this sense, we would like to share some preliminary comments and suggestions regarding the overall structure of the process and scope of the document:
a.- Process and representability:
Argentina highly values the consultation scheme developed with various stakeholders since it provided robust inputs for identifying the needs and concerns of producers in different regions. Hence, we understand that collaboration with civil society, the private sector, academia, and scientific institutions, among others, is indispensable. However, since this voluntary document is aimed to offer guidance to Member States that are seeking to augment their capability in terms of small-scale animal farming production, it is critical to collect and reflect national views, suggestions, and priorities as core ideas for designing the 0 draft of this document. Additionally, Argentina understands that Member States must be the exclusive actors in the future negotiation of this document.
b.- Scope and content:
-Argentina appreciates the intention to address the particularities of the small-scale livestock subsector given its importance in terms of food production and food security locally, regionally, and globally. In parallel, due to the lack of a multilaterally agreed definition concerning the elements encompassed by this concept, we would like to comprehend the criteria that will be utilized to determine the limits of the voluntary document. For instance, it would be valuable to understand the rationale behind the foreseen parameter to identify farmers and pastoralists who have “limited resources endowments” to avoid artificial discrimination among animal farmers.
-In terms of approaches to enhance animal protein production, Argentina also believes that themes related to technology transfer (SDG 17.7), capacity building, and access to financial tools, including investments, should be the bedrock for the identification of the objectives of this document.
-Regarding market impacts, small-scale livestock systems contribute to sourcing safe food to local, regional, and global consumers. In essence, Argentina recognizes that this document should not follow a restrictive approach (e.g. by focusing exclusively on local supply chains) and, instead, needs to broaden its conceptual latitude by including the benefits and positive implications of this subsector on regional and international food security.
In this vein, and based on the aforementioned inputs, Argentina would like to submit its suggestions to the consultation process led by the FAO Subcommittee on Livestock.
I remain at your disposal in case more details are needed.
Best regards,
Guillermo Spika
Alternate Permanent Representative
Representation of the Argentine Republic to FAO/IFAD/WFP
Permanent Representation of Argentina to FAO, FIDA, WFP