The demand for livestock products is projected to double in the next 40 years, offering huge opportunities for over a billion people who currently rely on the livestock industry for their livelihoods.

Policies should facilitate trade in under-exploited regional markets by removing non-tariff trade barriers, harmonizing standards and investing in trade infrastructure.

Domestic livestock markets are generally much larger than export markets in developing countries, with 90% of livestock products produced and consumed in the same country or region. Policies should respond to this domestic demand and provide incentives for increased value-addition and supply efficiency among locally processed livestock products, with priority given to traditionally consumed products.

Export-oriented policies that require large infrastructure investment should be weighed against realistic assessments of the potential benefits, including an understanding of the constraints imposed by sanitary and phyto-sanitary regulations and product quality standards.