According to FAO, livestock contributes to nearly 40% of the total agricultural output in developed countries and 20% in developing ones, supporting the livelihoods of at least 1.3 billion people worldwide. Livestock products are pillars of the global food system. Projections show that the demand for animal-source foods will grow rapidly in the African continent due to growth in the human population, increasing consumer purchasing power, and urbanization. Thus, producers and other actors will invest significantly in livestock farming systems and value chains.

The future of African Livestock will influence the development of the entire continent. We must build today for the foundations to steer livestock on a sustainable development trajectory in the future.

ALEC has proved to be a valuable platform to bridge the various gaps in the livestock value chain by attracting first-class exhibitors to do business and sharing their knowledge with sector stakeholders besides attracting investment, transferring technology, and serving as a professional development forum in one place a time. ALEC is the primary and significant event for the livestock sector development in the East Africa sub-region and mainly Africa’s most considerable livestock populated country of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia’s human population is anticipated to grow to almost 200 million in 2050, with the share of the urban population almost doubling to nearly 40% over the same period. GDP per capita is expected to grow from less than USD 700 in 2015 to over USD 5500 in 2050. The growing demand for livestock products will provide incentives for livestock farmers to expand their livestock assets, increase productivity through intensification, and use their animals as a vehicle for prosperity