Strengthening FAO and the Lao People's Democratic Republic collaboration on livestock climate action

Livestock forms a vital part of the agricultural landscape in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), accounting for over a third of agriculture's value added. Smallholder farmers raise cattle, buffalo, pigs, and poultry with minimal inputs. The demand for livestock products has surged due to rising domestic consumption and cross-border trade. To meet this growing demand, the government’s Agricultural Development Strategy 2025 targets a 2.5 percent annual growth rate of animal population to enhance the production of animals for exports and animal products for food security.

In this context, FAO, in collaboration with the Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, convenes a national stakeholder engagement workshop on national livestock climate action, including methane mitigation. The event will take place from 25 to 27 March 2025 in Vang Vieng, Lao PDR.

As part of the FAO Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC) subprogramme, the workshop aims to enhance mitigation and adaptation efforts within Lao PDR’s livestock sector. With livestock contributing over 20 percent of agriculture’s total greenhouse gas emissions, this initiative will support national efforts to reduce methane emissions, promote climate resilience, and align with Lao PDR’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and broader climate action strategies.

A platform for collaboration and innovation

The workshop will bring together 30–40 key stakeholders, including representatives from government institutions, research organizations, the private sector, producer associations, and development partners. Discussions will focus on livestock-related climate policies, greenhouse gas emission inventories, and strategies for reducing methane emissions. Participants will engage in expert-led presentations, interactive breakout sessions, and a field visit to explore practical solutions for integrating livestock-specific climate actions into Lao PDR’s NDCs and long-term climate strategies.

Advancing climate-smart livestock development

This workshop marks an important step in Lao PDR’s commitment to balancing livestock development with long-term climate resilience. By strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration and enhancing technical capacity, the event will contribute to sustainable food systems, economic resilience, and global climate goals. The initiative aligns with the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031, which promotes the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable through better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life, leaving no one behind. Through this workshop, LAO PDR continues to advance its efforts towards sustainable livestock transformation.