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A call to work together for sustainability in livestock farming
The President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, together with other national and FAO authorities, inaugurated the conference that will focus on #sustainablelivestock between today and tomorrow.
The president urged to maintain the instruments and with a firm institutional framework because the processes take time. The opening was attended by 3 ministers - of Livestock Fernando Mattos, of Economy Azucena Arbeleche, of Environment Robert Bouvier and the FAO representative for Latin America and the Caribbean Mario Lubetkin.
FAO Director General Qu Dongyu sent his message through a note.
The President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, together with other national and FAO authorities, inaugurated the conference that will focus on #sustainablelivestock between today and tomorrow.
The president urged to maintain the instruments and with a firm institutional framework because the processes take time. The opening was attended by 3 ministers - of Livestock Fernando Mattos, of Economy Azucena Arbeleche, of Environment Robert Bouvier and the FAO representative for Latin America and the Caribbean Mario Lubetkin.
FAO Director General Qu Dongyu sent his message through a note.
During the conference, actions will be exchanged on the transformation of livestock farming toward more innovative, resilient and efficient production systems that reduce environmental impact and increase the accessibility of healthy food in the different livestock production chains.
This began as a small project, a technical meeting to discuss methodologies for measuring the environmental impact of livestock production. This initiative grew and today we are facing a historic event, with the participation of authorities from the region and the world, where public policies, financing, research and development will be discussed, as well as the needs of the private sector for the sustainable development of the region's livestock sector.
The objective is to generate a space for discussion of policies and strategies, as well as to facilitate the exchange of opportunities for adoption and scaling up of actions through successful experiences.
Minister Mattos valued FAO's decision to hold the event in Uruguay. "It chooses the most livestock-producing country in the world," he said, and emphasized that more than 55% of the national territory preserves natural pastures, so production will continue to be sustainable in the future.
He also indicated that Uruguay, a major player in the export of livestock products, can produce food for millions of inhabitants of developed nations. In that sense, it must maintain adherence to standards, pastures, good nutrition and genetics, he said.
This began as a small project, a technical meeting to discuss methodologies for measuring the environmental impact of livestock production. This initiative grew and today we are facing a historic event, with the participation of authorities from the region and the world, where public policies, financing, research and development will be discussed, as well as the needs of the private sector for the sustainable development of the region's livestock sector.
The objective is to generate a space for discussion of policies and strategies, as well as to facilitate the exchange of opportunities for adoption and scaling up of actions through successful experiences.
Minister Mattos valued FAO's decision to hold the event in Uruguay. "It chooses the most livestock-producing country in the world," he said, and emphasized that more than 55% of the national territory preserves natural pastures, so production will continue to be sustainable in the future.
He also indicated that Uruguay, a major player in the export of livestock products, can produce food for millions of inhabitants of developed nations. In that sense, it must maintain adherence to standards, pastures, good nutrition and genetics, he said.
Arbeleche stated that the world is going through a paradigm shift, in which governments and companies have incorporated the environmental impact of their decisions and processes. In this regard, he considered that this should be integrated into economic policy to determine the country's growth and generate employment.
In the international arena, then, the message has been clear: countries that contribute to environmental care should receive economic recognition, such as a reduction in financing costs, he said. He also recalled government actions, such as the issuance of a sovereign bond associated with compliance with sustainability and climate change indicators or the linking of part of the specific internal tax (Imesi) to the contribution in carbon dioxide emissions, which meant a preparation for a requirement of the European Union from 2025.
In another order, he informed that the portfolio he heads will send to Parliament a bill to constitute a fund for climate and nature. When Uruguay, by complying with environmental indicators, obtains a reduction in financing rates, the resources saved will be directed to this initiative, which may also be nourished by General Revenues and foreign contributions.
Finally, he highlighted the joint work between MGAP and INAC to certify export meat as "deforestation free" and advocated that the promotion of sustainable development implies "more investment opportunities, better trade conditions and more jobs for our citizens".
In the international arena, then, the message has been clear: countries that contribute to environmental care should receive economic recognition, such as a reduction in financing costs, he said. He also recalled government actions, such as the issuance of a sovereign bond associated with compliance with sustainability and climate change indicators or the linking of part of the specific internal tax (Imesi) to the contribution in carbon dioxide emissions, which meant a preparation for a requirement of the European Union from 2025.
In another order, he informed that the portfolio he heads will send to Parliament a bill to constitute a fund for climate and nature. When Uruguay, by complying with environmental indicators, obtains a reduction in financing rates, the resources saved will be directed to this initiative, which may also be nourished by General Revenues and foreign contributions.
Finally, he highlighted the joint work between MGAP and INAC to certify export meat as "deforestation free" and advocated that the promotion of sustainable development implies "more investment opportunities, better trade conditions and more jobs for our citizens".
The opening ceremony completes this video.
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Ferber announced that there will be more than 65 speakers, 9 of whom are Ministers of Livestock and Agriculture from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Guyana and, of course, the Secretary of State of Uruguay.
The opening will be in charge of the President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou, the Director-General of FAO Qu Dongyu, FAO's highest authority, the Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative Mario Lubetkin.
Three Uruguayan government ministers will participate in the opening ceremony: Robert Bouvier, Minister of Environment, Azucena Arbeleche, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Fernando Mattos, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries. There will also be representatives on the panels from IICA, FAO, members of the diplomatic corps, the private sector and the public sector.
More than 700 people are expected to participate.
The head of INAC said that the Conference is a great opportunity to show the world the collaborative role of Uruguay, not only for this organization to bring together so many valuable voices around livestock sustainability but to appreciate the Uruguayan production system and therefore there will be a field day the day before for guests and authorities.
To read the full welcome from INAC President Conrado Ferber.
Detailed information about the event is available at the official website of the Conference: ganaderiasostenible.inac.uy/
The opening will be in charge of the President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou, the Director-General of FAO Qu Dongyu, FAO's highest authority, the Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative Mario Lubetkin.
Three Uruguayan government ministers will participate in the opening ceremony: Robert Bouvier, Minister of Environment, Azucena Arbeleche, Minister of Economy and Finance, and Fernando Mattos, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries. There will also be representatives on the panels from IICA, FAO, members of the diplomatic corps, the private sector and the public sector.
More than 700 people are expected to participate.
The head of INAC said that the Conference is a great opportunity to show the world the collaborative role of Uruguay, not only for this organization to bring together so many valuable voices around livestock sustainability but to appreciate the Uruguayan production system and therefore there will be a field day the day before for guests and authorities.
To read the full welcome from INAC President Conrado Ferber.
Detailed information about the event is available at the official website of the Conference: ganaderiasostenible.inac.uy/
Conrado Ferber
President of the National Meat Institute
President of the National Meat Institute
