SAG, SERNA, and CATIE strengthen alliance to promote sustainable livestock farming in Honduras

• The cooperation aims to shift the livestock sector towards environmentally friendly and economically viable practices.

October 10, 2023. In a joint effort to enhance the sustainability and productivity of the livestock sector in Honduras, representatives from the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment (SERNA), and CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) came together to strengthen their cooperation and technical support provided by CATIE on relevant issues in agricultural production, conservation, and climate action in the country. 

Emphasizing their collaboration in implementing the project "Transforming the Honduran Livestock Sector into a Low-Carbon Economy" (MAF-Livestock-HN), funded by the Mitigation Action Facility (MAF), the crucial role of these institutions in guiding livestock towards low-emission practices, promoting resilience, and profitability was underscored.

José Ángel Acosta, Deputy Minister of Livestock at SAG, and Malcolm Stufkens, Deputy Minister of SERNA, agreed on the importance of promoting livestock with lower emissions, recognizing the sector's vast potential to contribute to the national economy, the restoration of degraded areas, and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) of the country. This collaboration demonstrates that achieving harmony between livestock production and conservation is possible, marking a milestone in meeting the country's production and climate goals.

CATIE, renowned as a leading international center for innovation and sustainable development in agriculture and natural resource management, reaffirmed its commitment to this cooperation. By combining education, research, and external outreach, CATIE aims not only to increase human well-being but also to reduce rural poverty in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

With this approach, the groundwork is laid for a fruitful collaboration between these entities, allowing for the exchange of knowledge and experiences to promote environmentally-friendly livestock farming in Honduras.