FAO recognizes sustainable livestock initiatives in Costa Rica and China

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has recognized various initiatives for their contributions to sustainable agrifood systems under the One Health approach during a global conference.

In Costa Rica, the NAMA Livestock initiative has been honored for its efforts to transform the livestock sector. The program focuses on Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions to improve productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, more than 4,100 farms covering approximately 200,000 hectares are implementing practices such as silvopastoral systems, improved water and soil management, and the incorporation of trees to increase climate resilience.

Additionally, China’s Yili Group presented its whole-value-chain symbiosis model at the FAO’s inaugural Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems. The company highlighted its grass-livestock integration in Inner Mongolia, which restored approximately 3,667 hectares of degraded grassland, and its use of precision farming and IoT-enabled health monitoring at its Chilechuan Ecological Smart Farm to improve animal welfare and milk quality.