With support from FONTAGRO, the project “Foundations for an integrated adaptation strategy for livestock systems in Latin America” got under way. It is executed by Chile’s Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) together with Argentina’s National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Bolivia’s PROINPA Foundation and the Environmental Pollution Research Center (CICA) of the University of Costa Rica. Costa Rica’s Livestock Corporation (CORFOGA) and Chile’s dairy cooperative COLUN take part as associates.

The challenge is shared, though it takes different forms in each country:

• in Chile, about 90% of livestock systems depend directly on rainfall;

• Argentina’s Pampas region alternates between dry and very wet years;

• in Bolivia, more intense droughts have sharply reduced sheep production;

• in Costa Rica, about 70% of beef and dual-purpose producers run subsistence systems.

The project aims to respond with forage resources genetically tolerant to water stress that increase smallholders’ pasture production during critical periods and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

🔗 Project page (in Spanish) 🔗 Impact story (in Spanish)