What we do
N. Palmer (CIAT)
Together, we're powering data-driven decisions towards sustainable livestock
LD4D is a worldwide community of members and partners working together to improve livestock data and evidence. The LD4D network aims to support the transition towards more sustainable and inclusive livestock systems by optimizing policies, investments, and strategies through data and evidence.
Solutions Groups
LD4D supports short-life Solutions Groups where members collaboratively generate solutions to decision makers' data challenges. Working Groups have been previously paving the way by identifying thematic data problems.
These groups are being activated whenever possible. These will be announced through our website, newsletter and social media channels, so please make sure you are subscribed.
Would you like to harness the power of our network to address a livestock challenge that urgently needs solutions? Learn about opportunities for partnership.
Current Groups
- Climate Finance and Livestock: this group generates evidence to help livestock development projects estimate livestock emissions and apply for climate finance. Check the Climate Finance Briefs!
- Feed Baskets: this group is meant to improve data about what animals eat.
Previous Working Groups
- Livestock Fact Check: this group investigated the evidence behind popular facts about livestock, to discover whether those facts are accurate and up to date.
- Livestock modelling: This group brought together modellers who working within the livestock sector. It aimed to facilitate collaboration to answer some of the big questions relating to livestock.
- Data visualisation and dashboards: This group investigated the application of data visualisations to better interpret livestock evidence
Communities of Practice
The LD4D secretariat facilitates thematic Communities of Practice (CoPs) to support discussions on priority themes identified by the network.
Gender and Livestock Data CoP
The Gender and Livestock Data Community of Practice was launched in 2022, in response to interest from LD4D members working on measuring gender empowerment in livestock development. This active community has more than 100 members and holds regular events and online discussions.
Previous Communities of Practice
A number of thematic LD4D Communities of Practice were active in previous years and may be revived in the future depending on demand and available resources.
Livestock Ontologies
This group brought together research organisations and individuals to answer the question “How do we present livestock data in a consistent manner?”
- Update from the livestock ontologies working group (December 2020)
- Watch: Livestock data, FAIR and Ontologies: what are the obstacles and solutions? (September 2022)
Livestock & Environment
This group explored how organisations can support each other with environmental data and evidence for better decisions in the livestock sector. Members included organisations that are implementing livestock development projects, data collectors and analysts, environmental modellers and funders.
- Workshop report: How can data empower environmentally responsible livestock development? (September 2022)
Knowledge Sharing and Networking
LD4D aims to help all stakeholders working with data or needing them to make decisions, to interact effectively, identify common challenges, share experiences, and discuss potential solutions.
- Discover upcoming and past events including Community Conversations (webinars, learning sessions, online workshops, in-person networking events) and our inspiring Annual Virtual Member Meeting
- Subscribe to the LD4D Newsletter
- Stay in touch via the LD4D LinkedIn Page
- Explore our livestock data resources including publications and data visualisations
- Become a LD4D member (it’s free!). Learn more about what it entails
- Find out about all the ways to connect with us to get regular updates, find out about opportunities, and share your work