In some parts of the world, demand for meat, eggs and fish is set to rise at an unprecedented rate over the next few years. Some have predicted a “Livestock Revolution” in response to the rapid growth in population, incomes and urbanisation in parts of Asia and Africa. But what would a Livestock Revolution mean for the environment, and for different groups in society?
This project focused on one aspect of the global livestock market – poultry production in Sub-Saharan Africa. It ran from 2011 to 2016.
Blog posts
- The limits of ‘evidence’: Evidence-Based Policy-making for African agriculture By Jim Sumberg, Martha Awo, John Thompson, George T-M Kwadzo and Dela-Dem Doe Fiankor, 24 January 2013
- Supply or demand: what ‘drives’ modern agricultural revolutions? by Jim Sumberg, 26 September 2012
- Ghana: take 70,900 metric tons of frozen chicken, add politics by Jim Sumberg and John Thompson, 28 November 2012
Publications
- Ghana’s Poultry Sector: Limited Data, Conflicting Narratives, Competing Visions
- Revolution Reconsidered: Evolving Perspectives on Livestock Production and Consumption
Cases
Through a case study in Ghana, we looked at how the idea of a Livestock Revolution is discussed and acted on by people involved in the poultry industry – from regulators, governments and NGOs, to farmers and businesses producing poultry and eggs.
Encouraging dialogue
In looking at the different groups with an interest in poultry production, this project examined the differences in their knowledge and the way they think about the future, and how narratives and different types of knowledge are used to justify certain types of action and policies. We explored the dynamics between the ideas about a Livestock Revolution, the way the poultry production system actually works in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the networks and value chains connected to it.
The project looked for different ways of opening up conversations about sustainability in relation to poultry, and what these might mean for policy.
STEPS members working on this project:
- John Thompson – Convenor
- Jim Sumberg – Research Fellow