Outcomes

Improved understanding of animal nutrition allowed policy makers and a producer organization to develop low emissions forage options in Colombia. As part of CCAFS Low Emissions Development Flagship, CIAT’s LivestockPlus project adjusted a model for digestion and metabolism for the types of livestock, feed and nutritional qualities of feed under Colombian conditions. They used the results to test forages that can provide improved nutrition, but lower emissions.

Findings supported the government of Colombia to develop mitigation options for a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) for livestock and Colombia's livestock federation, FEDEGAN, to implement a sustainable livestock strategy targeting 50,000 ha of degraded pastures.

The NAMA and strategy were both informed by the model validation and data on livestock feeding strategies from CCAFS and CIAT.

Highlights from the project:

Project partners: 

International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales, Colombia (IDEAM), Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, Colombia (MADS), Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, Colombia (MADR)


This project was supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).