Livestock Research Group July 2015 Newsletter

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Page 5
‘Feeding the Planet:
Energy for Life’
at Expo Milano 2015
In a single day you can admire the biodiversity of fruits growing in Kazakhstan,
learn how the eggs of sturgeons are “milked”, experience a bee’s flight through
different British landscapes, taste the best of Italian wines with a sommelier,
and sample traditional Argentinean assado.
With over 140 countries sharing their food production traditions and new
technologies, theUniversal Exposition is a cultural journey that aims to highlight
the changes that the entire population of the planet is facing. International
organisations and the private sector are also sharing their efforts to assure
food security, reduce food waste, mitigate climate change and address air,
water and soil pollution, and there are clusters of special exhibitions on rice,
cocoa and chocolate, coffee, cereals and tubers, arid zones, spices and more.
As well as showcasing the best of agriculture’s bounty, the theme of the
Expo has given rise to a number of meetings of direct relevance to the LRG.
On 25 June the Swiss hosted a workshop to explore synergies between
three international livestock related initiatives - the LRG, the Global Agenda
for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) and the Global Alliance for Climate Smart
Agriculture (GACSA). Martin Scholten represented the LRG in an interesting
discussion that highlighted the special attributes of each organisation but also
the potential for collaboration and the need to avoid duplication. With its focus
on scientific research, the LRG is uniquely placed to develop the knowledge
base for mitigating and adapting to climate change through livestock. As
“multi-stakeholder platforms” both GACSA and GASL can play a role in
bringing different groups together to implement research outcomes through
partnerships and collaboration, and also to bring in critical dimensions such
as investment and policy support. The day after the Swiss event, the French
Pavilion hosted a meeting on the contribution of livestock to food security
and nutrition. The Expo also brought the World Farmers Organisation (WFO)
to Milan for their Annual General Assembly on 24-26 June. The partnership
between the GRA and WFO ensured the work of the GRA was featured with
New Zealand Federated Farmers President William Rolleston talking about the
role that GRA is playing in reducing the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions
through improvements in livestock productivity and specific research into the
microbiology of the rumen.
There will be many other such events taking place throughout the remainder
of the Expo, which runs until 31 October 2015. More information can be found
online at
One day is not enough to visit each of the 96 pavilions
overlooking the Decumano (main street) of the Expo Milano
2015 site, where countries from every part of the world are
exhibiting their culture, history and – of course – agriculture
in response to this year’s theme, “Feeding the Planet: Energy
for Life”.