Sharing knowledge and best practices is crucial for advancing sustainable livestock development and reducing the environmental impacts of livestock systems. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership’s resources provide scientifically robust methodologies and tools to assess and improve the environmental performance of livestock operations.
These success stories illustrate the tangible benefits of using FAO LEAP guidelines and principles to accelerate adoption of sustainable practices across diverse regions and livestock production systems.
Share your story!
Are you a researcher, organization or practitioner using and implementing FAO LEAP guidelines? We want to hear from you! Share your story and experiences to inspire others and showcase the impact of sustainable practices in livestock development.
How to submit your FAO LEAP success story:Download the reporting template available here.
Complete the form to tell us about your experience and achievements.
Submit the completed form to: [email protected].
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Success stories
Simulating a Sustainable Future: The Digital Tool Transforming Dairy and Beef Farms
01/01/2024
What if farmers could test the environmental and economic impact of new practices before ever implementing them? The USDA’s Integrated Farm System Model...
Empowering Every Dairy Farm: A Simple Tool for a Net-Zero Future
01/01/2017
How can thousands of individual dairy farms collectively track their journey to sustainability? The answer is found in the FARM Environmental Stewardship...
Beyond the Herd: Data-driven insights into U.S. beef and dairy sustainability
01/01/2021
What is the true environmental footprint of the U.S. beef and dairy industries? A landmark national assessment led by the USDA Agricultural Research...
Mapping a Greener Future for Cattle Farming: A National Tool for Change
01/01/2021
How can a nation balance the growing demand for beef with the urgent need for environmental stewardship? Uruguay is leading the way with a powerful...
The Sustainability Balancing Act - New Insights into Livestock Feed Production
01/01/2021
In the quest for sustainable livestock, does intensifying feed production help or harm the environment? Groundbreaking research from Uruguay’s Instituto...
Harmony on the Range - How Uruguayan Ranches Are Boosting Biodiversity
01/01/2021
Can vast livestock ranches be havens for wildlife? A pioneering assessment in Uruguay proves they can. The Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria...
Cultivating Success - How a Smarter Phosphorus Strategy is Boosting Wheat Yields and Profits
01/01/2021
For farmers, the balance between productivity, profit, and planetary health is a constant challenge. A groundbreaking study from the University of Agriculture...
Driving Sustainable Change in New Zealand's Livestock Sector
01/01/2021
AgResearch has successfully demonstrated the positive evolution of New Zealand's livestock production environmental footprint through a rigorous, internationally...
Carbon Footprint of New Zealand Beef and Sheep Meat Exported to Different Markets
01/01/2021
AgResearch, in partnership with New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries, conducted a carbon footprint assessment of New Zealand beef and sheep...
Assessment of Soil Carbon Stock Changes at a National Level
01/01/2019
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research in New Zealand leveraged the LEAP Soil Carbon Stocks and Stock Changes guidelines to establish a national-scale soil...
Quantifying the Effects of Feed Additives on the Environmental Footprint of Animal Production
01/01/2021
Blonk and DSM Nutritional Products conducted a groundbreaking study in the Netherlands and Switzerland (2021) to assess how feed additives influence...
Establishing a National GHG Inventory System for Kenya’s Dairy Sector
01/01/2021
The State Department for Livestock (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Kenya) leveraged FAO LEAP guidelines to assess the...
Advancing Environmental Sustainability in Livestock Production
01/01/2016
The Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis (CREA) has leveraged FAO LEAP guidelines to drive sustainability in livestock...
Advancing Sustainability Through an LCA Database on Feed Production
01/01/2023
The Global Feed LCA Institute (GFLI) leveraged FAO LEAP guidelines to develop a global Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) database for feed production, incorporating...
Enhancing Water Management in Organic Dairy Farming
01/01/2021
The Humboldt University of Berlin applied FAO LEAP Water guidelines to develop adaptation strategies for improved water management in an organic dairy...
Empowering Farmers to Reduce GHG Emissions and Enhance Carbon Sequestration
01/01/2021
The French Livestock Institute (Institut de l’Elevage) has successfully implemented FAO LEAP guidelines to assess and support farmers in reducing greenhouse...
Advancing Environmental Footprint Methodology in the EU
01/01/2021
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has successfully integrated FAO LEAP guidelines into the Environmental Footprint (EF) methodology...
Driving Sustainability in Canada’s Livestock Sector
01/01/2018
In 2018, Groupe AGÉCO, a leader in agri-food economics and sustainability, partnered with organizations like Dairy Farmers of Canada, Chicken Farmers...
Assessment of the environmental sustainability of Canadian beef production systems
01/01/2020
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada used the FAO LEAP guidelines to assess the environmental sustainability of Canadian beef production systems. Assessments...
Water productivity of milk produced in three different dairy production systems in Southern Brazil
01/01/2022
Following the FAO LEAP guidelines on water use, an in-depth assessment evaluates the water productivity of milk produced on 67 farms in southern Brazil....
Efficiency gains in tropical beef feedlots with artificial shading
01/01/2023
The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) has conducted a detailed assessment to evaluate water, land, and nutrient efficiencies in...
The effects of best feed crop practices in pig and poultry production on water productivity
01/01/2021
A comprehensive assessment following the FAO LEAP water use guidelines has revealed the positive impact of enhanced water use efficiency in feed crop...
Assessing water scarcity impact of livestock production Southern Brazil
01/01/2023
The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), following the FAO LEAP guidelines on water use, conducted a comprehensive assessment to evaluate...
Artificial shading boosts water efficiency and animal welfare in cattle feedlots
01/01/2022
In a groundbreaking study, the Brazilian Agricultura Research Corporation (Embrapa) has successfully demonstrated the benefits of artificial shading...