20/10/2025
Global Farm Platform honoured with FAO Technical Recognition for Sustainable Livestock Transformation
Published: 17 October 2025
By: SSLLP Malawi Communications
Rome, Italy – The Global Farm Platform (GFP), a pioneering collaborative network of 19 research farms and 28 institutions across six continents, has been awarded the prestigious Technical Recognition by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Sustainable Livestock Transformation, One Health, Animal Health, and Reference Centres.
The award was presented during the FAO Global Technical Recognition Ceremony on 15 October 2025 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, as part of FAO’s 80th anniversary celebrations and the World Food Forum.
A hub-and-spoke model for global impact
The GFP connects cutting-edge livestock research with real-world farming practices through its hub-and-spoke model, launched in 2014 following the Nature paper “Steps to Sustainable Livestock.”
Research farms serve as experimental hubs, while smallholder and commercial farms act as spokes, scaling locally relevant, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable solutions.
From tropical smallholder systems in Malawi to temperate dairy farms in the UK, this model ensures global innovation is locally grounded.
Among its flagship initiatives is the Small Scale Livestock and Livelihoods Program (SSLLP) in Malawi, which boosts farmer incomes by 30–50% through goat auctions, dual-purpose crops, and community-driven market development.
These successes support FAO’s Four Betters—better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life—and echo the 2025 World Food Day theme, “Hand in hand for better foods and a better future.”
SSLLP’s Contribution from Malawi
As Malawi’s member of the Global Farm Platform, SSLLP demonstrates how smallholder farmers can lead climate-smart livestock transformation.
Through integrated livestock-crop systems, gender inclusion, and digital financial access, SSLLP empowers rural farmers to adapt to climate change while increasing productivity and income.
“This FAO recognition underscores the value of grassroots innovation linked to global collaboration,” said Kalimalwayo Mwakasungula, Executive Director of SSLLP. “Our partnership with the Global Farm Platform allows us to translate scientific research into practical, scalable solutions that are improving livelihoods and supporting One Health outcomes in rural Malawi.”
Global Leadership Reflected in FAO Recognition
“This FAO recognition reinforces the Global Farm Platform’s role as a global leader in sustainable livestock transformation,” said Dr Jordana Rivero, GFP Chair (Promar International and Rothamsted Research, UK).
“Our hub-and-spoke model fosters collaboration across continents, empowering farmers, researchers, and policymakers with innovative, scalable solutions that tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security whilst advancing One Health principles.”
“For SSLLP, this recognition reaffirms our commitment to Malawi’s Vision 2063 and the Malabo Declaration targets,” added Mwakasungula. “We look forward to scaling our climate-smart livestock work to reach more communities and strengthen resilience through science-based solutions.”
About the Global Farm Platform
The Global Farm Platform unites institutions across six continents to develop sustainable ruminant farming systems.
With over £4 million in funding, GFP has completed 15 projects, held 35 international workshops, and supported 15 early-career research internships. The platform’s outputs include nearly 200 scientific publications, and partnerships such as the Marshal Papworth Programme, working with international students from Africa and Asia.
Visit: www.globalfarmplatform.org
About the Small Scale Livestock and Livelihoods Program (SSLLP)
The Small Scale Livestock and Livelihoods Program (SSLLP) is a Malawian non-profit organisation driving climate-smart agriculture, financial inclusion, and rural livelihood transformation.
Through livestock innovation, crop-livestock integration, and farmer capacity building, SSLLP empowers smallholders—especially women and youth—to achieve economic resilience and food security.
