Impact story Scaling sustainable livestock technologies: harnessing data for climate resilience and mitigation in Colombia
In Colombia, ranchers are adopting innovative practices to address climate change and improve livestock productivity. Central to this transformation is a geospatial database (GDB) developed within the Livestock and Climate initiative, which provides comprehensive data on sustainable livestock practices implemented across 377 farms in Colombia's Caquetá region.
By Jacobo Arango, Natalia Matiz, Juan Andrés Cardoso, Stefan Burkart, Idupulapati Rao, Ciniro Costa Jr., Alejandra Marín and Juliana Pérez
The urgent need for sustainable solutions in livestock management is clearer than ever. In response for this need, in Colombia, ranchers are adopting innovative practices to combat climate change and improve livestock productivity. Central to this transformation is a geospatial database (GDB) developed within the Livestock and Climate initiative, which provides comprehensive data on sustainable livestock practices implemented across 377 farms in Caquetá region. This dataset is a cornerstone for scaling climate-smart technologies.
The GDB captures detailed geospatial and descriptive data including farm locations, sustainable livestock technology areas, and producer profiles. Covering over 20,000 hectares, it reveals a spectrum of land uses, including:
- 3,000 ha dedicated to forest conservation
- 1,000 ha under sustainable livestock technologies such as live fences, silvopastoral systems, rotational grazing, mixed forage banks, water harvesting, and more.
Hacienda San José (HSJ) cattle farm in the Orinoquia region exemplifies the application of these technologies. This 13,000-ha ranch integrates climate-smart practices including no burning of grassland, tree regeneration and forest conservation. For a detailed exploration of these efforts, see here.
A handbook developed by Livestock and Climate researchers guides stakeholders in implementing improved pastures as a climate solution. As a complement to the handbook, Livestock and Climate scientist-supported global Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems and climate mitigation and adaptation protocols are being developed, connected to carbon markets.
To upscale sustainable livestock practices we prioritize making our data and insights accessible, and the success at HSJ was highlighted in a segment on national television, showcasing Hacienda San José’s innovative climate-smart techniques and inspiring adoption across the region. This visibility has drawn interest from the Colombian departments of Arauca and Sucre, which seek to replicate its model for regional climate change adaptation. Beyond government entities, the private sector (including retailers and conflict victims) are leveraging these examples for deforestation-free certification schemes, enhancing supply chain sustainability.
Field experts and local farmers discuss sustainable pasture management techniques on Hacienda San José, Colombia. Credit: CIAT / Anny Yedra
Field data collected using GPS, satellite imagery and GIS underpin carbon sequestration projects, combining data on soil texture grids and rotational grazing. Advanced technologies such as remote sensing and AI are employed to estimate biomass and carbon in forests, as described here.
Sustainable livestock raising based on improved forage grasses also foster biodiversity. Projects in collaboration with the Nature-Positive Solutions initiative assess their impact by studying soil health (soil macrofauna) and observing the abundance and richness of bird populations. An ex-post impact assessment of the use of improved forage grass technologies developed by the Alliance shows significant social, economic and environmental gains in Colombia.
The integration of sustainable livestock technologies not only benefits ecosystems, but also opens doors to climate finance. Projects such as HSJ have secured significant investments, such as a USD 7.5 million funding supported by Livestock and Climate research. Another example for climate finance is our work with the Colombian NGO GANSO, which provides technical assistance on sustainable livestock farming, has elaborated a sustainability standard, and established price premium marketing of sustainable beef products with one of the largest supermarket chains in Colombia. Learn about sustainable financing strategies here.
Sustainable managed grazing system that supports both animal well-being and ecosystem health in a demonstration farm in Caquetá, Colombia. Credit: CIAT / José Luis Urrea
The understanding of adoption factors for sustainable technologies is crucial for scaling them in Colombia, and for the development of a supportive policy and institutional framework. Our analyses on the influence of gender roles and conflict on technology adoption strategies have informed decision-makers in various departments of Colombia and helped shape adoption strategies. Our work with the largest dairy company in Colombia has helped in building capacity among young dairy farmers, providing them with opportunities that motivate them to continue their dairy farming activities, preventing migration to cities. We also analyzed factors that cause young livestock farmers in Colombia and Guatemala to leave the cattle sector and migrate to cities or abroad – important information that will help shape future policies for providing opportunities for young people in sustainable livestock farming. At the policy level, we have analyzed both the development process and the start of the implementation phase of Colombia's first national-level policy for sustainable livestock. This information was fed back to the Colombian Roundtable for Sustainable Cattle, which was the entity responsible for the development of this policy.
The integration of robust datasets, advanced technologies (such as improved forages and low-methane feeds) and collaborative frameworks could revolutionize livestock management in Colombia. These efforts are paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, offering a scalable model for neighboring countries, with a global application. This transformation in livestock production underscores the potential of data-driven approaches to catalyze meaningful climate action, benefiting both livelihoods and the planet.
