Resource information
The livelihoods of pastoralists revolve around their indigenous livestock. Combining high
production with disease resistance using genetic engineering is a biotechnological intervention
hailed by some as a promising avenue to mitigate food insecurity and poverty. Considerable
human and financial resources have already been devoted to exploring this option. However, the
challenges are enormous. It is unlikely that such livestock would survive in the harsh ecosystems
where pastoralists live and that it would meet their diverse and breed specific social and economic
requirements. Furthermore, the questions of intellectual property rights over genetically engineered
livestock need to be resolved otherwise there is the danger of the genetic traits of indigenous
livestock being pirated by industrial breeders. The loss of biodiversity and of pastoralist livelihoods
might also be possible consequences. Instead of genetically engineered livestock, pastoralists
need recognition of their livestock breeds and management skills, the right to their own breeding
decisions and improved services to enhance their livelihood and support their breeds.
