By Sipke J. Hiemstra, Centre for Genetic Resources - Wageningen University & Research - @HiemstraSJ

To maintain options for livestock systems to adapt to a variety of future environments and contexts it is important to preserve a broad genetic base and livestock gene pool. Complementary strategies are needed to conserve and to properly manage farm animal genetic diversity (local and cosmopolitan breeds), and to exploit the available animal genetic resources in the global context of food and nutrition security and climate change. At the same time, livestock provide a diversity of agroecological, social, cultural and rural economic services, contributing to preservation of biodiversity, diverse landscapes, high-quality food and cultural heritage. Hence, breeding goals and the choice of livestock breeds should be based on characteristics and limitations of different future farming systems and agro-ecological contexts. Knowledge should be mobilized on development of tailor made breeding goals, on better phenotypic and genomic characterization of breeds, and on genotype × environment interactions and resilience mechanisms.