Sustainable Livestock Systems to Improve Human Health, Nutrition, and Economic Status – An Article Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65339/ijsair.V2.I2.481Keywords:
Sustainable Livestock, Animal-Sourced Foods, Human Nutrition, Food Security, Economic Development, Greenhouse Gas EmissionsAbstract
Sustainability issues related to livestock have been discussed primarily with an emphasis on their environmental effects without sufficient consideration for nutrition and other socio-economic factors. The purpose of this article review is to analyze the paper by Varijakshapanicker et al. (2019) that highlights the potential of livestock as a critical resource in enhancing the health of humans, food and nutritional security, and economic stability in developing countries. In the reviewed paper, the authors make use of the results obtained in the areas of nutrition science, environmental science, and developmental economics to elaborate on the role of livestock as an asset in terms of providing livelihood opportunities in rural areas, ecosystem services, and converting non-food biomass resources to food products. At the same time, the paper identifies several problems, including greenhouse gas emissions, inequitable distribution of food resources, and sociocultural obstacles associated with the consumption of animal-source foods. In summary, the paper provides a vital contribution to the literature through its balanced approach to sustainability that accounts for both environmental and nutritional factors.
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