This study analyses what happened to the livestock trade in the greater Darfur region during the conflict years, how it has responded, to what extent - if at all - it has recovered and how it can be supported in the long-term to sustain livelihoods. While reporting some positive trends, the study reveals many inefficiencies in the way that livestock are traded, which are exacerbated by the increased trading costs associated with the conflict, further reducing the competitiveness of Darfur’s livestock exports.

On the Hoof: Livestock Trade in Darfur
By M Buchanan-Smith, A J A Fadal, A R Tahir & Y Aklilu
United Nations Environment Programme, 2012; 67 pp.
Downloadable as PDF file from:
http://sites.tufts.edu

About 45% of the world’s 750 million poor livestock keepers live in South Asia and 25% live in sub-Saharan Africa. Of these, only a small minority have been able to take advantage of the opportunities provided by increases in demand for animal products. This book identifies conditions under which livestock can help to reduce poverty sustainably but warns that the specific context of each country means that a blueprint approach does not work.

Livestock Sector Development for Poverty Reduction: An Economic and Policy Perspective
Livestock’s Many Virtues
By J Otte, A Costales, J Dijkman, U Pica-Ciamarra, T Robinson, V Ahuja, C Ly & D Roland-Holst
FAO/PPLPI, 2012; 162 pp.
Downloadable as PDF file from:
www.fao.org

Investment in agriculture is vital for farmers to cope with changing climates, ecological degradation, population growth, rising energy prices, rising demand for meat and dairy products, and competition for land. Oxfam argues that private sector investment can play a vital role in delivering inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability and poverty reduction. But to achieve this it must be adequately regulated and follow key principles, focusing on local food markets, working with producer organisations and respecting the rights of small-scale producers, workers and communities.

Private Investment in Agriculture: Why it’s Essential, and What’s Needed
By E Sahan & M Mikhail
Oxfam International Discussion Paper, 2012; 17pp.
Downloadable as PDF file from:
http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk

Ethanol and biodiesel are predominantly derived from agricultural commodities, such as grain, sugar and oilseeds. To be successful, this approach much be economically sustainable and must not conflict with the use of agricultural land to produce food and feed for humans and livestock. This book outlines how both criteria can be met by utilising the residues of biofuel production (co-products) as livestock feed.

Biofuel Co-products as Livestock Feed: Opportunities and Challenges
Edited by H P S Makkar
FAO, 2012; 533 pp.
Downloadable as PDF file from:
www.fao.org

One-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. Tackling food loss and waste could therefore make a significant contribution to combating hunger and increasing farm incomes in developing countries. This policy brief highlights solutions, including making affordable post-harvest and processing technologies available to producers and improving access to markets.

Going to Waste - Missed Opportunities in the Battle to Improve Food Security
By C Pedrick
CTA, 2012; 4 pp.
CTA no. PB007E
Downloadable as PDF file from:
http://publications.cta.int

Despite being defined by water scarcity, drylands contain a great variety of biodiversity, much of which is highly adapted to an arid ecology. This is vital to the livelihoods of many dryland inhabitants, playing an important role in risk management and the provision of ecosystem services. This publication raises awareness of the importance of sustainably developing drylands and conserving dryland biodiversity, for example by promoting ecologically-sensitive farming practices, such as agroforestry, pastoralism and conservation agriculture.

Conserving Dryland Biodiversity
By J Davies, L Poulsen, B Schulte-Herbruggen,
K Mackinnon, N Crawhall, W D Henwood, N Dudley, J Smith & M Gudka
IUCN, 2012;
85pp.
Downloadable as PDF file from:
http://data.iucn.org

This book provides analysis of REDD+ design and implementation, including how and why REDD+ has changed, what it looks like in practice, and the main political and practical challenges in designing and implementing effective, efficient and equitable REDD+ policies and projects. Despite uncertainty about the future of REDD+, the authors state that ‘no regret’ policy options that reduce deforestation and degradation - regardless of climate objectives - should be a priority.

Analysing REDD+: Challenges and Choices
By A Angelsen, M Brockhaus, W D Suderlin & L V Verchot
CIFOR, 2012; 426 pp.
Downloadable as PDF file from:
www.cifor.org

In the past decade, land eight times the size of the UK was sold off globally, enough to grow food for 1 billion people. Oxfam argues that this rush for land has not been adequately regulated or policed, resulting in poor people being evicted without consultation or compensation. In this briefing note, Oxfam calls on the World Bank to temporarily freeze investments involving large-scale land deals to review its advice to developing countries, help set standards for investors and introduce more robust policies to stop land grabs.

‘Our Land, Our Lives’: Time Out on the Global Land Rush
By K Geary
Oxfam International Briefing Note, 2012; 26pp.
Downloadable as PDF file from:
http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk

Pastoralism supports tens of millions of people, makes the best use of harsh environments and provides many economic and social benefits. However, policy-making tends to favour sedentary populations and marginalise pastoralist communities. To improve the welfare of pastoralist communities a wide range of policies are needed, including: securing rights to grazing lands and water resources; insurance policies; measures to promote the trade of pastoral livestock; investment in education; and encouraging policy dialogue.

Protecting and Promoting Pastoralism in Africa
By C Pye-Smith
CTA, 2012; 4 pp.
CTA no. PB006E
Downloadable as PDF file from:
http://publications.cta.int

With contributions from UN agencies - working together under the umbrella UN-Water - this publication brings together case studies, best practices and lessons learned on capacity development in the context of water management and the green economy. Chapters deal with the safe use of wastewater in agriculture, rainwater harvesting, natural infrastructure solutions and the eco-tank model for sanitation and improved water quality.

Water and the Green Economy: Capacity Development Aspects
Edited by R Ardakanian & D Jaeger
UNW-DPC, 2012; 190 pp.
Downloadable as PDF file from:
http://data.iucn.org

Evidence shows that enabling farmers and other citizens to design policies and institutions, decide on strategic research priorities and investments, and assess the risks of new technologies can lead to more sustainable livelihoods and environments. This briefing describes six tried and tested ways that can amplify the voice and influence of marginalised citizens in framing the food and agricultural policies that affect them.

Putting Citizens at the Heart of Food
System Governance
By M Pimbert
IIED, 2012; 4 pp.
Downloadable as PDF file from:
http://pubs.iied.org