Presented by Robyn Alders, Johanna Wong, Doreen Anene, Scott Moreland, Hannah Reed, Belinda Richardson and David Heymann at the International Tropical Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 11−13 November 2019

1. The quest for policy and public expenditure opportunities
to support implementation of
livestock and aquaculture interventions
Robyn Alders1,2, Johanna Wong1, Doreen Anene1, Scott Moreland1, Hannah Reed3,
Belinda Richardson3 and David Heymann1
International Tropical Agriculture Conference Brisbane, Australia, 11-13 November 2019
1. Centre for Global Health Security, Chatham House, London, UK
2. Development Policy Centre, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
3. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, USA

2. Most of the world’s more than 570
million farms are small and family-run
Small farms (less than 2 ha) operate about
12% of the world’s agricultural land
Family farms operate about 75%
of the world’s agricultural land
Of approx. 770 million people surviving on less
than USD 1.90 per day, about half depend
directly on livestock for their livelihoods,
frequently on land unsuitable for cropping
Photo credits: Robyn Alders

3. LMICs account for about 80 percent of
world aquaculture production
Globalization of value chains and
increasing demands for certification
appear to be marginalizing small-scale
producers in many countries
Women play a significant role in
aquaculture value chains
Photo credits: World Fish
Dominated by households who have ponds
and operate aquaculture as an integrated
component of their farming systems

4. Chatham House | The Royal Institute of International Affairs 4
The BMGF Livestock Initiative: a quick overview
2018 strategy
• Recognise that market failures contribute to keeping small-scale
producers poor
• Seeking to understand how country-led policy and public
expenditure can contribute to:
- inclusive agricultural transformation
- with empowered women and well-nourished families
- transforming the economy
• Focusing on market-oriented small-scale producers

5. Chatham House | The Royal Institute of International Affairs 5
Chatham House’s role in the current project
To develop a policy-relevant decision toolkit to identify supportive smallholder aquaculture and livestock
practices and value chains that deliver across the triple bottom line:
Economic sustainability
 Fair remuneration of family producers who are devoted stewards of land and water and who
produce safe, nutritious food and other associated natural products
 Fair payment of and conditions for those involved along value chains
 Delivery of safe, nutrient-rich food and other natural products at prices affordable by
consumers
Environmental sustainability
 Regenerative agricultural and aquaculture practices that capture carbon, increase soil and
water quality and conserve and promote biodiversity
 Ethical use and recycling of key nutrients along value chains and food systems
Social sustainability
 Non-farming community endorses and values agricultural and aquaculture practices and
value chains
And to do so through a nutrition- and gender-sensitive lens

6. Prototype Decision Toolkit to BMGF:
triangulation of evidence for policy action
Global, regional
and national policy
literature review
synthesis
Peer-review group
Public consultation
Country case study
findings
National Roundtables with guided
scenario discussions
Triangulation of findings and analysis
Identification of examples of enabling or inhibitory policies and policy-relevant investment options
and trade offs in support of gender- and nutrition-sensitive economically, environmentally and socially
sustainable animal (ruminant and poultry) and aquaculture (fresh and saltwater) systems presented to BMGF and
case study countries
Secondary data tool and
agreed indicator checklist
Key informant
interview
findings

7. Triangulation of findings – common themes
Policy-related theme
Lit Review Bangladesh RT Nigeria RT
Inadequate attention to infectious disease including food safety and
antimicrobial resistance
Inadequate attention to feed and fodder
Inadequate access to extension services
Negative environmental impacts including climate change and
weather variability
Sub-optimal alignment of household economics and production,
marketing, trade, value chains
Insufficient attention to tailoring genetics and production systems to
local situations
Inadequate consultation and collaboration with stakeholders of
different genders along supply chains and across sectors during
policy-making process
Seven most frequently mentioned themes arising from the global literature review and Bangladesh
and Nigeria Roundtables. The darker the colour, the more frequently mentioned the theme.

8. Example of policy-related constraints and trade-offs in relation to smallholder
income, marketing, nutrition security and climate change mitigation
Inter-related
themes
Constraints including trade-offs and possible solutions
Short-term Medium-term Long-term solutions
Economics,
trade, value
chains,
nutrition
security and
climate change
mitigation
Inadequate attention to market
preferences and consumer buying
power.
Producers unable to cover capital
investment costs when market lacking.
Fewer smallholder producers operating
as successful business enterprises.
Compile and analyse
comparative cost-effective
metrics on production and
marketing systems that
enhance soil, water, plant,
animal and human health.
Inadequate costing of externalities and
agroecological production systems.
Expansion of non-agroecological
production systems.
Continued degradation of soil and water
health.
Inadequate monitoring and management
of soil and water health.
Producers paid by weight with nutrient
composition a secondary concern.
Continued expansion of production
systems that yield food with less than
optimal nutrient density and profiles.
Employ appropriate 21st
century technology and
innovations to link livestock
and aquaculture nutrient
production, quality
assurance practices and
environmental impact to
farm-gate and market
prices.
Smallholders lack bargaining power to
command appropriate farm-gate prices
for produce and input supplies.
Smallholders remain price takers. Unable
to care adequately for households, land
and water assets.
Food safety issues inadequately
addressed and frequently benchmarked
against standards developed for use in
high socio-economic settings.
Inadequate appropriate support blocks
smallholders from meeting required
standards and prevent access to more
lucrative markets.

9. Example of policy-related constraints and trade-offs in relation to smallholder
income, marketing, nutrition security and climate change mitigation
Inter-related
themes
Constraints including trade-offs and possible solutions
Short-term Medium-term Long-term solutions
Economics,
trade, value
chains,
nutrition
security and
climate change
mitigation
Inadequate attention to market
preferences and consumer buying
power.
Producers unable to cover capital
investment costs when market lacking.
Fewer smallholder producers operating
as successful business enterprises.
Compile and analyse
comparative cost-effective
metrics on production and
marketing systems that
enhance soil, water, plant,
animal and human health.
Inadequate costing of externalities and
agroecological production systems.
Expansion of non-agroecological
production systems.
Continued degradation of soil and water
health.
Inadequate monitoring and management
of soil and water health.
Producers paid by weight with nutrient
composition a secondary concern.
Continued expansion of production
systems that yield food with less than
optimal nutrient density and profiles.
Employ appropriate 21st
century technology and
innovations to link livestock
and aquaculture nutrient
production, quality
assurance practices and
environmental impact to
farm-gate and market
prices.
Smallholders lack bargaining power to
command appropriate farm-gate prices
for produce and input supplies.
Smallholders remain price takers. Unable
to care adequately for households, land
and water assets.
Food safety issues inadequately
addressed and frequently benchmarked
against standards developed for use in
high socio-economic settings.
Inadequate appropriate support blocks
smallholders from meeting required
standards and prevent access to more
lucrative markets.

10. Examples of forward-looking multisectoral policies
AIM: To mobilise funds and align sectoral
and cross-sectoral food and nutrition
security related programmes
AIM: To improve crop and livestock
production practices for higher food security
and farmer income while reducing emissions

11. Preliminary policy and policy-related conclusions and lessons
Key findings
Smallholder aquaculture
and livestock production
remain vital
Smallholder aquaculture
and livestock producers
face similar challenges
Huge deficiencies in quantity and quality of key data and
relevant metrics available to decision- and policy-makers
Participatory policy-
making more likely to
deliver feasible policies
and improve compliance
Absence of implementation plans, operational
budgets and effective and participatory monitoring
and evaluation contribute substantially to poor
performance of existing policies
Multiple contributions of smallholder animal- and
fish-source food and products to national economy
and human health insufficiently valued by
decision- and policy-makers
Aquaculture and livestock
targets frequently included
in national strategies but
not well-represented in the
current SDG targets
Roundtable policy discussions involving diverse
stakeholders crucial to understanding the
opportunities and constraints faced by smallholder
producers, value chain actors and relevant
government officers
Insufficient attention
given to the role of
livestock and aquaculture
in agroecological practices
Harmful disconnect
between production and
consumer buying power
Increasing competition for
nutrients between
intensive livestock and
aquaculture and human
value chains

12. Thank you
Chatham House | The Royal Institute of International Affairs
Comments and questions
most welcome
Email: RAlders@chathamhouse.orgSource: Chittagong Veterinary & Animal Sciences University
Acknowledgements
Thanks go to the Governments of
Bangladesh and Nigeria and to
farmers, producers, practitioners
and researchers globally who have
contributed to the implementation
of this project.

13. Chatham House | The Royal Institute of International Affairs 13
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