Improved forages for increased livestock productivity and climate change adaptation and mitigation

Cardoso, Juan Andres, J.A., Mayorga, M., Burkart, S., Notenbaert, A., Peters, M. 2024. Improved forages for increased livestock productivity and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Kenya: ILIRI

This brief is a companion piece to the overall report “Livestock and Climate Change: Outlook for a more sustainable and equitable future”. The overall report and its associated briefs are legacy products of the CGIAR Livestock and Climate Initiative drawing from science generated during the 2022-2024 life of the research project. Climate change poses a significant threat to livestock production in low- and middle-income countries, jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions who depend on livestock for food security and income. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events disrupt feed supplies, reduce animal productivity, and exacerbate poverty (Idupulapati et al. 2014). The livestock sector in these regions is particularly vulnerable due to its reliance on rain-fed pastures and limited access to improved forage technologies (Idupulapati et al. 2014). Further compounding the issue is the predicted increase in demand for animal products by 2050 and the pressure to decrease pollutant output (Hart et al. 2022). Improved forages–grasses, legumes, and other plants specifically planted to feed animals and selected or bred for desirable traits such as higher yield, improved nutritional value, and greater tolerance to drought and other environmental stresses– offer a critical solution for climate change adaptation and mitigation in livestock production. These forages enhance livestock productivity, ensure a steady feed supply, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (CIAT 2025).