The Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation ( GPA ) was approved by the Members of the 30th Session of the FAO Committee on Agriculture (COAG).
This is the first-ever globally negotiated framework entirely dedicated to guiding the sustainable transformation of livestock farming. The GPA is a balanced and integrated framework, designed to address the three dimensions of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental, in a synergistic and mutually reinforcing manner.
“This is a major achievement for FAO and all stakeholders in the livestock sector. Now is the time to act together, turning the Action Plan into concrete solutions and building a more efficient, inclusive and resilient future for livestock systems ,” said Thanawat Tiensin, FAO Deputy Director-General, Chief Veterinary Officer and Director of the Animal Production and Health Division.CO
AG’s approval represents a success, coming just two years after the initial request made in 2024 during the FAO Subcommittee on Livestock. The Plan is a voluntary, non-binding, country-led instrument, and is aimed at all stakeholders in the supply chain.
Priority areas and objectives of the GPA
PlanThe Global Action Plan was created to guide the evolution of livestock farming through four priority areas of intervention:
- food safety, nutrition and healthy diets;
- improving livelihoods and inclusive economic growth;
- animal health according to the One Health approach;
- use of natural resources, climate action and biodiversity.
The importance of the livestock sector
Animal-source foods are a valuable source of protein and essential micronutrients . In recent years, livestock farming has been one of the fastest-growing sectors, driven by rising global consumption and incomes. Livestock farming represents a vital activity for hundreds of millions of small-scale producers, providing year-round income and food opportunities. At the same time, the sector faces crucial challenges related to the spread of zoonotic diseases, antibiotic resistance, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions.
To concretely transform global livestock farming, the Action Plan includes 17 strategic priorities and articulates 85 operational actions, including:
- food safety and accessibility: ensuring the safety of food of animal origin and promoting its availability and access;
- promotion of healthy diets and research: encourage healthy eating habits, including through scientific research on the nutritional impacts of consuming foods of animal origin at various stages of life;
- Fighting waste and supporting producers: reducing food losses and waste along livestock supply chains; strengthening cooperatives and producer organizations;
- Resilience and Employment: Develop plans to improve livestock farmers’ resilience and access to markets, promoting decent work opportunities;
- Feed management and animal health: optimizing the management of feed and food resources for livestock; preventing and controlling animal diseases;
- responsible use of antibiotics and animal welfare: promote good farm management practices to reduce the need for antimicrobials and promote animal welfare;
- environmental protection and natural resources: promote the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of rangelands and grasslands;
- Climate action and biodiversity: encourage climate change mitigation and adaptation practices and enhance the contribution of sustainable livestock systems to ecosystem services and biodiversity.
FAO’s supporting role
FAO formally invites Members to draw on the GPA to develop or adapt their national action plans or equivalent policy instruments, in accordance with the needs and priorities of individual local contexts. The Organization will perform a range of functions to support the implementation of the Plan, providing direct assistance to governments in drafting national or regional action plans. The Subcommittee on Livestock will periodically review the progress of the GPA implementation and make appropriate recommendations for the future.
