Learning Resilience in Local Livestock Breeds from COVID-19 Pandemic

Federica Turri,Gustavo Gandini,Flavia Pizzi

doi:10.3390/su13041715

Abstract

In situ conservation of local breeds requires populations in economically sustainable and resilient production systems. In those countries where the market recognizes the quality of the products of local breeds, the traditional relationship between local breeds and products can be used to improve breed profitability. We analyze sales data from year 2020 of five dairy products associated with endangered local breeds farmed in northern Italy, in order to understand the potential resilience of these production systems, in terms of ability to persist and to adapt to disturbances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. All breed-cheese systems showed good capacity to persist during the COVID-19 pandemic, with four systems even increasing sales with respect to the period 2017–2019. Three breed-cheese systems showed rapid adaptation to the new conditions by modifying sales channels, including the introduction of e-commerce.

Highlights

A wide consensus exists for in situ conservation, and its importance is emphasized by the UN
In countries where the market is ready to recognize the quality of the food products from local breeds, the traditional relationship between local breeds and products can be used to diversify products and to improve breed profitability [3]
We present here preliminary data on the sales, in 2020, of five dairy products associated with endangered local breeds farmed in northern Italy, in order to understand the potential resilience of these production systems in terms of persisting and adapting ahead of disturbances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines in situ conservation as the conservation of livestock diversity through continued use by their keepers in the agro-ecosystems in which populations are normally found [1]. A wide consensus exists for in situ conservation, and its importance is emphasized by the UN. Minimizing costs for conserving breeds in situ requires livestock populations in economically sustainable production systems, systems capable of supporting a defined level of economic production in the long term, contributing to a sustainable development of the rural communities, and guaranteeing, at the same time, all conservation values of livestock breeds, without negative impacts on the environment. It is important to consider the options we have for successful in situ conservation of breeds through their utilization, and to make local endangered breeds self-sustainable.

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Conclusion