Sustainable Development Goals and the livestock sector in Central Asia: A course outline

Abstract

The livestock sector contributes greatly to human nutrition and economic wellbeing, but it is also associated with negative impacts on the environment and human health. This document outlines a course which examines the sector through the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, examining trade-offs and synergies between different goals associated with pasture use, intensification, commercialisation and livestock product consumption. The course introduces the international literature on each of these topics and examines the issues raised in detail for the Central Asian region, considering the importance of SDG synergies and trade-offs for different types of producer, and asking how government policies can maximise the contribution of livestock towards the achievement of SDGs.