The global food system is facing three major challenges: providing food security, protecting the environment and improving human health. These challenges place livestock farming at a crossroads. However, changes in diets, population growth and changes in the agricultural landscape vary depending on the regions of the world. These dynamics raise questions about the role of livestock farming in territories, the types of farming, its impacts and the services it can provide. How can we anticipate these changes and assess their consequences?

This book presents several different foresight studies that were carried out in different contexts (Global North and Global South) and at different scales (from local to global). It examines the connection between qualitative (joint) scenario building methods and quantitative modelling and assessment approaches. This work also explores the time sequence for the foresight–modelling–assessment cycle, identifying key variables, using data and the role stakeholders play in this whole process, especially when it comes to using these results to make decisions.

This book is based on work arising from the Research School that was organized by INRAE and CIRAD within the framework of the Macro-Livestock-Environment Joint Technology Network (RMT MAELE). The target audience is the scientific community engaged in interdisciplinary approaches. It will also be of interest to anyone working with agriculture, the environment and food, as well as to persons working in the field of sustainable agricultural development.