Promoting social, environmental, and economic well-being, the First World Sustainable Livestock Congress is held in Costa Rica

Guanacaste, Costa Rica, July 18, 2024.- With the objective of promoting sustainability and innovation in livestock production, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Government of Germany through KfW, and the European Union (EU), supported the holding of the First World Congress on Sustainable Livestock. This event was organized by the Chamber of Livestock Breeders of Liberia and the World Sustainable Livestock Association in Costa Rica.

The congress brought together members of the livestock sector worldwide, including producers, marketers, exporters, academics, scientists, and representatives of the public sector. These participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences and establish strategic alliances to promote an environmentally friendly livestock model.

During the three days of the event, key topics were discussed such as the challenges and future of sustainable livestock farming, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, the importance of animal protein consumption for nutrition, and animal traceability in international markets. Experts from various countries shared their knowledge with attendees, enriching the debate and promoting learning.

More than 40 small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in the livestock sector participated with stands to exhibit their products and services, establishing contacts with potential clients and suppliers. The congress also offered a field day, where attendees learned about innovative experiences in sustainable livestock farming, including organic meat production and efficient production systems such as the keyline method to maximize water use.

"At CABEI, as the main ally and source of financing for Central America, we are extremely pleased to be able to join this initiative that will serve as a platform to make decisions and promote an agenda around sustainable livestock farming that not only protects our environment, but also improves the quality of life of our communities and strengthens our economies," said the Director for Costa Rica before CABEI, Erwen Masís, at the opening ceremony of the event.

For his part, Matteo Banti, Head of Regional Cooperation of the European Union, pointed out that "for us it is a great pleasure to participate in this important event that seeks to promote environmentally sustainable practices in livestock farming. We are committed to helping Central American SMEs that want to adopt these types of sustainable methods. Costa Rica is a great example in this matter."

The Congress was sponsored by the Green MSMEs Initiative II that seeks to protect the climate and the environment, creating and offering adequate, efficient, and sustainable financial products for the micro, small and medium enterprise sector with investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and cleaner production. At the regional level, the Initiative has granted more than US$40 million in credits and more than US$7 million in guarantees, protecting more than 10 thousand jobs in more than 600 companies.