Arabfields, Farah Benali, Economic Correspondent in China — In a pivotal gathering at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, officials and experts recently emphasized the urgent need for deeper collaboration between China and Africa to revolutionize the continent’s livestock sector. Livestock agriculture remains a cornerstone of rural livelihoods across Africa, providing essential support for millions of pastoralists while playing a vital role in food security, nutritional balance, and both intra-African and international trade. Yet, without significant transformation, the sector risks stagnation, leading to slower industrial growth, fewer employment opportunities, and diminished incomes for those who depend on it most. The Forum on Science and Technology for African Animal Resources Management, jointly organized by the Mission of China to the AU and the AU’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, highlighted how science and technology could serve as powerful catalysts for change, unlocking the immense potential of Africa’s animal resources.
Moses Vilakati, the AU commissioner for agriculture, rural development, the blue economy, and sustainable environment, underscored the strategic importance of livestock in sustaining rural populations and bolstering continental trade. He cautioned that inaction would hinder progress, but expressed optimism that the forum would promote meaningful exchanges between African and Chinese experts, facilitating knowledge transfer and institutional partnerships to elevate the sector. Complementing this view, Jiang Feng, head of the Mission of China to the AU, pointed to China’s own remarkable advancements in livestock production, where efficiency, quality, innovation, and value creation have surged forward. He advocated for strengthened ties through improved governmental frameworks, enhanced technological exchanges, and enterprise-led collaborations driven by market forces.
The discussions at the forum revealed promising pathways forward, with Chinese delegates from enterprises, universities, and research institutes presenting cutting-edge solutions tailored to African challenges. Innovations in smart animal farming, powered by artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, promise to optimize feeding, monitoring, and health management in ways that could dramatically increase yields while reducing losses. Advances in zoonosis prevention and control, alongside designs for bio-safety vaccine factories, address critical vulnerabilities like disease outbreaks that have long plagued African herds. These technologies align closely with AU priorities in animal health, production, and trade, offering concrete opportunities for joint ventures that blend continental needs with Chinese expertise.
Looking ahead, this renewed push for cooperation builds on a foundation of ongoing initiatives that signal a bright trajectory for the sector. Projects such as livestock technology demonstration centers in countries like Mauritania have already demonstrated tangible benefits, guiding upgrades in pastures and improving cattle health and productivity. Broader frameworks, including the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance and commitments under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, incorporate livestock training programs, exchange initiatives, and market access enhancements. With Africa’s livestock population boasting billions of heads, including over two billion chickens and hundreds of millions of goats and sheep, the continent holds vast untapped resources. Recent growth in animal feed production, reaching nearly 58 million tonnes in 2024 with the world’s highest year-on-year increase, indicates rising momentum that Chinese investment and technology could accelerate further.
In the coming years, deeper partnerships are poised to yield transformative outcomes. By the end of the decade, widespread adoption of smart farming tools and improved disease control could boost production efficiency by substantial margins, mirroring China’s own leaps in the field. Enhanced vaccine production and bio-safety measures might reduce mortality rates from epidemics, stabilizing supplies and enabling consistent growth in meat, dairy, and other products. Market-driven collaborations, supported by zero-tariff access to China’s vast consumer base for many African goods, could expand exports significantly, turning livestock into a major driver of economic value addition on the continent. As demand for animal proteins surges with population growth and urbanization, projections suggest that targeted investments could help Africa meet rising needs domestically while positioning it as a key player in global trade.
Over the longer horizon, toward 2030 and beyond, this cooperation could contribute profoundly to food sovereignty and sustainable development across Africa. Integrated systems combining breeding improvements, processing infrastructure, and logistics, inspired by China’s experiences, might create resilient value chains that generate millions of jobs, particularly in rural areas. Climate-resilient practices, informed by shared research on drought-tolerant feeds and adaptive management, would safeguard against environmental pressures, ensuring the sector’s endurance. Ultimately, by harnessing technology transfer, capacity building, and mutual investment, China and Africa stand to forge a model of South-South collaboration that not only elevates livestock as an engine of prosperity but also advances shared goals of nutritional security, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth for generations to come.
