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The International Goat Association continues to affirm the mission and vision of our organization as we established in our strategic plan.

Our objective is to develop activities that will improve our contribution to goats and small livestock in favor of a more sustainable and local food supply, prosperity for all humankind and the fight against hunger and poverty.

This important goal needs to be strengthened because of the present challenges that are being faced by goat producers and the livestock sector in general.

A World Facing Dramatic and Urgent Challenges

We all know about such global challenges as: climate change, desertification, a lack of clean safe drinking water, overpopulation, soil erosion, wasted natural resources and a loss of biodiversity.

Three global challenges need to be explored further because of their seemingly contradictory affects on our planet.
1. The need to produce more to feed the human population.
2. The damaging environmental effect of livestock and livestock-related anthropogenic activities.
3. The need to produce locally to avoid negative externalities.

Promoting Our Collective Awareness

We really need to promote a collective awareness on these challenges, the dangers and opportunities. The relationship between using locally raised livestock to feed the earth’s human population needs more attention. Our current situation demands a well argued and presented response to these challenges.

Goats – A Complex and Diverse Reality

More than any other animals, goats are an emblematic animal of this situation. Often they are accused of damaging the environment, but through sustainable animal management techniques they can be adapted to any climate and diet. When used right they can are a tool for protecting our planet and benefiting the populace.

To consider the goats as the banner for change we have to consider their diverse and ambiguous reality. Most of the world herd is still owned by poor farmers that could improve their daily food supply and income through goats or small herds of cows, sheep and so on, without heavy inputs.

Although goats are often associated with marginal lands and poor rural areas, the reality has changed and is very complex. In many areas, they are seen negatively for their supposed harmful effects on the environment.

Our objective must be to avoid confusion and to be comprehensive. We have identified with Christie Peacock and David Sherman, and their recent paper, “Sustainable goat production – some global perspectives.” We urgently need, what is presently lacking, a comprehensive and solid study of the real positive and negative effects of goats, village herds and their real local functions with a focus on the social and local development of rural zones.

• What is related to industry and what is related to social welfare?
• We must take in consideration that in more and more areas, there is a well structured goat sector of industrial type.

Our aim is to link research, extension, production and processing on goats and small livestock production by sharing information, experience, and best practices for the sustainable benefit of humankind, to alleviate poverty, to promote prosperity to supply food and to improve the quality of life.

Such a mission is not simple and so it is necessary to clearly define our ideas on what it means.

Local and Global Diversity with Complementary Activities

A commitment to fostering information, scientific knowledge, education and dialogue in favor of a rural sustainable development through goats and village herds, activities that protect bio and cultural diversity, respect for the environment, and local food supplies.

IGA’s Traditional and Successful Activities Supporting Applied Research

• High quality publications (Small Ruminant Research).
• Organization of International and Regional Conferences on Goats.
• Grants for young researchers and special studies.

Expertise and Action that Favors Innovation and Development

• Support for local projects in collaboration with NGO and Development agencies.
• Support training and education by promoting and defining Educational programs, and by supporting the creation of IGA recognized Teaching/Training Centers.

Produce Solid Comprehensive Information

• For Civil Society, to promote animal production and pastoralism by didactic documents, for administration and public Services (edition of dossiers, lobbying).
• For farmers to sponsor and support the edition of didactic handbooks, documents for local projects (with NGO), to develop documents in local languages.

Actual Items to be Developed at Several Levels:

• Production systems, local forage and breeds,
• Development processes and governance,
• Product qualification, promotion and certification,
• Environmental and social impact of goats and livestock activities (including gender aspects),
• Disease control and hygiene,
• Management, nutrition and selection,
• Voluntary attitudes and a pro-active approach,
• Awareness of challenges for rural development,
• A network that assists this global movement by generating further discussion, research, implementation and innovation.