Invited paper The key role played by livestock in the ecology of farming systems including the ability to deliver nutritious foods from non-human edible ingredients

Abstract

With the growing pressure on resources, it is critical that livestock production systems contribute positively to overall food supply. The globe has reached peak arable land availability so more will need to be made from this land as well as from non-arable land. The livestock industries, particularly those based on ruminants, offer exciting opportunities to converts human inedible fodder and forage grown on non-arable land into nutritious, safe and healthy food. Also, all livestock industries can utilise human inedible agricultural and food production co- and by-products and produce high quality human edible food. However, there is no doubt that the livestock industries will continue to face opposition from those who don't support an omnivore lifestyle. Therefore, those of us who are engaged in the animal industries, including the peak animal science organisations, need to develop strategies to counter these arguments.