In East Africa, what we are now calling regenerative agriculture is basically kitchen gardening for food security, without the reliance on inputs, which is the traditional method of growing food. How do we evaluate the sustainability of production systems in the Global South and how do these compare to those in the Global North?
Comparisons are challenging. In the Global South most animals are multifunctional providing food, income, ecosystem services, finance, services, and cultural status. Evaluating the environmental footprint of livestock is largely through tools developed by the Global North which do not account for the other functions these animals provide.
The millions of small holder farmers across East Africa typically have two or three cows plus another two or three species of livestock such as goats, sheep, chickens, and pigs. They are typically on two or three acres and for most farmers the milk is used for the family first with surplus going to the market. All animal waste products is recycled back into the soils.
Today my guests, Su Kahumbu, Bernard Kimoro, and Claudia Arndt, who are working together to improve food security and sustainability across the millions of small holder farms and the traditional pastoral systems across East Africa. Su Kahumbu is a Kenyan Farmer and entrepreneur who works with small holder farmers to improve food security, nutritional security, and environmental sustainability. Her focus is developing mobile phone based education tools. Bernard Kimoro leads climate change and livestock sustainability for the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture and livestock. He is especially focused on working across the traditional pastoral systems. Claudia Arndt leads leads the Mazingira Centre where her team are investigating the environmental impact of livestock with focus on GHG emissions. The Mazingira Centre is part of the sustainably livestock program for the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi. Her research focuses on optimizing nutrient utilization efficient to reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture, including the climate impact of methane emissions.
In East Africa, what we are now calling regenerative agriculture is basically kitchen gardening for food security, without the reliance on inputs, which is the traditional method of growing food. How do we evaluate the sustainability of production systems in the Global South and how do these compare to those in the Global North?
Comparisons are challenging. In the Global South most animals are multifunctional providing food, income, ecosystem services, finance, services, and cultural status. Evaluating the environmental footprint of livestock is largely through tools developed by the Global North which do not account for the other functions these animals provide.
The millions of small holder farmers across East Africa typically have two or three cows plus another two or three species of livestock such as goats, sheep, chickens, and pigs. They are typically on two or three acres and for most farmers the milk is used for the family first with surplus going to the market. All animal waste products is recycled back into the soils.
Today my guests, Su Kahumbu, Bernard Kimoro, and Claudia Arndt, who are working together to improve food security and sustainability across the millions of small holder farms and the traditional pastoral systems across East Africa. Su Kahumbu is a Kenyan Farmer and entrepreneur who works with small holder farmers to improve food security, nutritional security, and environmental sustainability. Her focus is developing mobile phone based education tools. Bernard Kimoro leads climate change and livestock sustainability for the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture and livestock. He is especially focused on working across the traditional pastoral systems. Claudia Arndt leads leads the Mazingira Centre where her team are investigating the environmental impact of livestock with focus on GHG emissions. The Mazingira Centre is part of the sustainably livestock program for the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi. Her research focuses on optimizing nutrient utilization efficient to reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture, including the climate impact of methane emissions.