Hsin Huang, Secretary General of the International Meat Secretariat and chairperson of the FAO LEAP Steering Committee, addresses five questions on the future of livestock, the role of the private sector within the multi-stakeholder partnership and the new directions of the FAO LEAP Partnership.

What challenges are we facing today to make the transition towards a sustainable livestock production possible?

There are many uncertain projections about the future of livestock but what is clear is that we need to produce more. As the global population continues to grow, more livestock products are needed in countries where people don’t have enough [to meet nutritional requirements]. These are big challenges due to the complexity of our agricultural systems. To be efficient, livestock production systems depend very much on where you are in the world. Thanks to this diversity we can maximize opportunities, but at the same time, we need to respond to the socio-economic questions and livelihood-related challenges that vary greatly from one country to another. This is also why it becomes very difficult today to have a balanced discussion on livestock. Too often we are looking for simple - or one size fits all - solutions to address a very complex production system. We need to engage the public in a two-way discussion to better explain [this complexity] and create a shared understanding. The future of livestock is in our hands and depends entirely on what we collectively decide as a society.

What are the benefits and specific interests of the private sector in joining the partnership?

As of today, no production system in any sector of the economy is really sustainable. And moving towards better sustainability becomes even more crucial when it comes to food, a basic human need [and right]. The private sector wants to contribute to sustainable agrifood systems, including livestock. We need to improve our practices and work together to have a better economic and environmental outcome. The private sector is an interested citizen in this community and we want to be recognised as an important part of it. Just like the other actors, we have genuine aspirations for a better future and a system that is more sustainable.

A recent FAO evaluation demonstrated the importance of the partnership and identified opportunities for improvement. How do you salute these results?

The theory of change [the evaluation recommended to strengthen] defines a very complex web focusing on how participants in the livestock sector interact with each other. If we understand this big overall picture then we can better achieve our shared goals. Gender equality, for instance, is something that we all need to improve. Women are not recognised enough for the leading role they play in food and nutrition security. We have realized this from a while but progress is still slow in the livestock sector as everywhere else. [To overcome] the FAO LEAP Partnership’s budget uncertainty, we encourage more government participation [within the partnership]. [Only] few of the countries that are engaged in FAO LEAP are very active, and even fewer are involved financially to support LEAP activities. We need to engage more governments and entities that are interested in investing in social development and a better future for the planet.

What are the priorities of the FAO LEAP Partnership’s fourth phase inaugurated at the beginning of this year?

One of the things we would like to spend resources on is the LEAP Navigator, a web-based interface in multiple languages that will help farmers and other users find more practical information [on the environmental impacts of livestock]. We also want to attack new challenges. Circular-bio economy and ecosystem services, for example, are two of the proposals for LEAP 4 we need funds for. From plants to livestock, whenever food is produced there are ecosystem services that come with it. But as they are difficult to identify and price in the market, they are often not paid for. For instance, the beautiful landscape of a countryside with cultivated fields, and pastures on mountains and valleys, including the associated biodiversity, soil preservation, flood control, and so on are all ecosystem services for which farmers should be paid. We need to prioritize [our activities] considering the funding shortage we have right now.

What do you think is the added-value and strategic role of LEAP in the narrative of sustainable agrifood systems?

The FAO LEAP Partnership brings scientific facts into focus to demonstrate why livestock is a crucial integral part of food systems. FAO is the best place to host a partnership that involves all the actors that want to be active and constructive participants in a global discussion on livestock. Involving different stakeholders is one of the most difficult things to do, but we [are ready to] do what is necessary to solve a complex set of issues. Having a partnership where science and facts come together from hundreds of leading universities, academia and research institutes from all over the world is unique. There are so many important challenges that we are facing today and livestock can make an important contribution to. We need to work closely together to improve our environmental, social and health outcomes. For our sakes, for our planet, for the future.

About Hsin Huang

Hsin Huang is Secretary General of the International Meat Secretariat (IMS). Prior to joining IMS, he was responsible for climate change analysis in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Trade and Agriculture Directorate. This included assessing the role of agriculture in climate change, challenges and opportunities facing the livestock sector, food security and sustainability, and developing a "green growth" strategy for food and agriculture. Huang is currently active in the FAO-hosted Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) and the FAO Livestock Environmental and Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership. He chaired the FAO LEAP Steering Committee on behalf of the private sector both in 2016 and 2022.