Research Series 84: Farmed animal production in tropical circular food systems

For farmed animal production in the tropics, there are two important food system outcomes: supplying animal-sourced food to ensure healthy diets for all; and contributing to climate change mitigation and minimizing pollution.

In this review, the role of farmed animals in circular food systems in the tropics is presented in four case studies. The impacts of circularity on food security and environmental impact mitigation are discussed. Farmed animals are important in circular food systems because they use land unsuited to crop production, they upgrade crop residues, and they supply manure for crop production. However, their increased demand puts pressure on important aspects of circularity, such as minimizing food-feed competition, maximizing use of waste streams in feed, and the value of manure for fertilization.