With the title "Strategies and instruments to promote sustainable livestock farming in the EU and LAC".On 13 May, the 1st EU-LAC Agri-Food Dialogue, organised by AL-INVEST Verde in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), was held. The event, in an online format, brought together almost 300 people from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The webinar was attended by representatives of the European Commission, as well as strategic actors and support agents linked to the cattle chain. in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. It analysed sustainable livestock farming in the context of the European Union Regulation on Deforestation and Forest Degradation Free Supply Chains (EUDR).
The event was opened by Emilio Calvo RoldánThe importance of this cycle of dialogues, which will take place throughout 2025 and 2026, was highlighted by the Director of Component 2 of AL-INVEST Verde. He then took the floor Felice ZaccheoFor him, "meetings like this one are essential to exchange experiences, share good practices, learn from each other and identify innovative solutions that allow us to move forward together towards sustainable models".
For its part, Lloyd DayThe cycle of dialogues is "a strategic common space to promote knowledge management, exchange and the promotion of joint strategies," said the deputy director general of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). "Livestock is fundamental to the economy and employment in Latin America, representing 46% of the regional agricultural GDP and being a source of income for more than two thirds of agricultural producers," he added.
The inauguration was also attended by Elena PanichiThe EU needs partners to address global challenges," said the head of unit for Latin America and the Caribbean in the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), who pointed out that "sustainable livestock farming is crucial for the EU economy, the preservation of the environment and rural landscapes".
Following these interventions, Josephine EiseleRegional Director of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), gave a presentation on "Synergies and targets for reducing GHG emissions from the global agenda". In her presentation, she referred to the importance of the private sector working with the public sector and, she said, "being able to discuss how to contribute to a national agenda".
This was followed by a block on "Lessons and perspectives in the construction and implementation of policies to promote sustainable livestock farming in LAC", in which the following speakers took the floor Daniel Azeredoof the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) of Brazil, and Fernando SampaioThe two men presented the report to the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC), Director of Sustainability of the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC). Both presented the Legal Meat Programmeimplemented in Brazil and supported by AL-INVEST Verde.
From Uruguay, Verónica DuránDirector of the Office of Programming and Agricultural Policy of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, presented experience and lessons on public policies for sustainable livestock farming. "Livestock activity is of key importance in the economy, in society and at territorial level," she said, noting that nearly 100,000 people are employed in the livestock chain. "There is an important effort to promote and define good agricultural practices and this configures a level of excellence in health status, which is key to accessing markets," he stressed.
The presentation "Mitigation of methane emissions from livestock farming in the EU" was given by Valerio AbadessaDG AGRI policy officer, for whom "solutions towards an environmental transition must be technically and socio-economically realistic". "Otherwise, any progress may not be accessible to all farmers," he said.
The event concluded with the participation of Walter Oyhantcabalinternational advisor to IICA's Hemispheric Program on Climate Action and Agricultural Sustainability, and Felix LutzDG AGRI International Relations Officer. Following his speeches. Andrea MonacoSenior Programme Manager of AL-INVEST Verde/Component 2, closed the dialogue and invited to participate in the 2nd EU-LAC Agri-Food Dialogue, which will take place in person in June.
Sustainable livestock farming
Livestock is one of the main sub-sectors of relevance at the agri-food level, with an important share of the total production. contribution of 40% to the overall value of agricultural production. It is therefore essential to generate, promote and understand sustainable policies that can be implemented at the regional level.
Livestock has undergone significant development, driven mainly by population growth, rising per capita incomes in countries of the South and changes in eating habits that increasingly demand higher consumption of animal protein, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and IICA.
Latin America and the Caribbean account for 30% of world beef production, according to FAO and IICA data, while the European Union produces 78 million head of cattle, according to 2024 data from the European Commission, supplying markets globally.
About AL-INVEST Verde
AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union (EU) programme whose main objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy. Through Component 2, led by FIIAPP in consortium with IILA, the programme provides assistance for strengthening public policy and multi-stakeholder dialogues on sustainable agricultural and value chains, environmental and labour standards, as well as sustainable trade and economic policy and regulatory frameworks.
