Key insights

• ⭐ Animal-sourced foods are vital for providing essential nutrients that are hard to obtain from plant-based foods, particularly for children in sub-Saharan Africa.
• 💰 Stunting crisis costs Africa nearly 25 billion dollars every year and holds the continent back, impacting the development of young brains and increasing healthcare costs.
• 🌍 Africa's pastoralists supply the majority of meat in Nigeria and are crucial for sustainable milk and meat production, yet they face impoverished conditions and various challenges.
• 🤝 Supporting pastoralists with proactive measures and sustainable economic solutions is essential, requiring collaboration with businesses and policies promoting modernization without sacrificing culture.
• 🌱 Innovative and ethical business models in Ethiopia are supporting pastoralists, improving meat production, and boosting the local economy, with success contingent on supportive government policies.
• 👍 Namibia's pastoralist-friendly policies, including banning antibiotics and implementing live animal tracking, have led to impressive changes, resulting in increased beef exports and higher incomes for pastoralists.
• 📊 Governments need to invest in better-quality data to support pastoral communities in navigating their challenges and thriving, as pastoralists demonstrate resilience and creativity in adopting modern and ancient practices for sustainable milk and meat production.
• 🥩 Efforts in addressing the stunting crisis in Africa should focus on fostering sustainable milk and meat production, supporting pastoralists, and ensuring access to essential nutrients for children's development.

Q&A

• Why do governments need to invest in better-quality data for pastoral communities?

  Investing in better-quality data is crucial to support pastoral communities in navigating their challenges and thriving. Pastoralists show resilience and creativity in adapting modern practices alongside ancient wisdom, which can lead to sustainable milk and meat production and a healthier future for Africa's children.

• What positive changes have Namibia's pastoralist-friendly policies led to?

  Namibia's policies, including banning antibiotics, implementing live animal tracking, and improving animal husbandry practices, have resulted in increased beef exports and higher incomes for pastoralists. Many pastoralists are making up to 2,500 US dollars a year from meat sales and have improved access to affordable meat cuts and more milk.

• What is the innovative and ethical business model in Ethiopia supporting pastoralists?

  The business model involves humanely slaughtering animals and selling the meat in export and local markets. It aims to double revenue and increase pastoralist household income significantly. Similar programs are emerging in Nigeria, Kenya, and beyond, but their success depends on government policies recognizing the importance of pastoralists.

• How can efforts to help pastoralists be more effective?

  Efforts to help pastoralists need to be more proactive and focused on sustainable economic solutions. Businesses should work directly with pastoralists, and policies and investments should support their modernization without sacrificing their culture.

• What challenges do Africa's pastoralists face?

  Africa's pastoralists, who supply the majority of the meat in Nigeria, are impoverished and face challenges including disputes over natural resources and environmental changes.

• Why are animal-sourced foods crucial for addressing the stunting crisis in Africa?

  Animal-sourced foods provide vital nutrients that are hard to obtain from plant-based foods. African children struggle to get essential nutrients from plant-based foods, making animal-sourced foods crucial for their development.

• What are the consequences of the stunting crisis in sub-Saharan Africa?

  Stunting in sub-Saharan Africa leads to underdeveloped young brains, making it harder for children to learn and increasing healthcare costs due to an increased risk of infections. It costs Africa nearly 25 billion dollars every year and holds the continent back.

• 00:04 Africa needs more meat due to stunting crisis affecting children in sub-Saharan Africa. Animal-sourced foods provide vital nutrients that are hard to obtain from plant-based foods.
• 01:57 Africa's pastoralists supply majority of the meat in Nigeria, but are impoverished and face challenges. They are crucial for sustainable milk and meat production in Africa.
• 04:00 Efforts to help pastoralists need to be more proactive and focused on sustainable economic solutions. Businesses should work directly with pastoralists, and policies and investments should support their modernization without sacrificing their culture.
• 06:09 A vegetarian visits a slaughterhouse and learns about an innovative and ethical business model in Ethiopia that supports pastoralists, improves meat production, and boosts local economy. The success of such programs is contingent on supportive government policies.
• 08:15 Namibia's pastoralist-friendly policies have led to impressive changes, including banning antibiotics, implementing live animal tracking, and improving animal husbandry practices, resulting in increased beef exports and higher incomes for pastoralists.
• 10:15 Governments need to invest in better-quality data to support pastoral communities in navigating their challenges and thriving. Pastoralists show resilience and creativity in adapting modern practices alongside ancient wisdom, which can lead to sustainable milk and meat production and a healthier future for Africa's children.