Progress towards Zero Hunger must be protected from the dual challenges of pandemics and climate change. The frequency of infectious disease outbreaks – including the emergence of novel viruses and zoonotic diseases – is expected to continue rising as livestock, food security, economies, and global health are increasingly threatened by a destabilising climate. At the same time, malnutrition is unacceptably high across all regions of the world.
In this brief, four questions are addressed from the perspective of livestock systems:
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How can food systems emerge strengthened from the COVID-19 pandemic?
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How can the agricultural sector contribute to preventing further pandemics?
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How can food systems become more climate-resilient?
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How can food systems contribute to climate change mitigation better than before?
The crucible of COVID-19 is an opportunity to acknowledge vulnerabilities in order to “build back better” by applying the lessons learned from emergency and rehabilitation activities of past zoonotic disease outbreaks and natural disasters. This means investing in sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and better lives. This brief is designed to answer the four questions and include a brief overview of key challenges and opportunities for innovation, alongside recommendations for priority actions. These range from steps to better mitigate and monitor threats, to helpful measures for boosting resilience.