Transformation Pathways for Sustainability and Resilience of Smallholder Dairy Production Systems

Smallholder dairy production systems (SDPS) play a critical role in rural livelihoods, household nutrition, employment and food security in developing economies. As per FAO estimates, globally, SDPS contribute over 80–90% of milk production, provide livelihoods for around 150 million households and make a significant contribution to reducing rural poverty. In addition, dairy income acts as insurance for rural households, especially under unforeseen risks and uncertain conditions. Furthermore, SDPS have direct linkages with multiple SDGs, such as no poverty (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10). However, the long-term sustainability of these production systems is increasingly threatened by a combination of economic, environmental and institutional constraints. At the same time, climate change is increasing exposure to heat stress, water scarcity, feed shortages, disease risks and extreme weather events.Against this background, this research topic asks how economically, environmentally and socially sustainable smallholder dairy production systems are, and what factors determine their capacity to remain resilient under demand and supply, climate, market and institutional pressures? To address these questions, the specific objectives of the study include: to assess the economic sustainability of smallholder dairy production systems in terms of profitability, productivity, input-use efficiency, income stability and economic viability; to evaluate the environmental sustainability of smallholder dairy farms by examining greenhouse gas emissions, feed and water use, manure management and resource-use efficiency; to assess the social sustainability of smallholder dairy production, including employment, household livelihood dependence, gender participation, food security and intergenerational continuity; to identify the major climate, market, technological and institutional constraints affecting the sustainability of smallholder dairy farms; to examine farmers’ adoption of climate-smart and sustainable dairy practices and automation in production systems, and to identify the socioeconomic and institutional factors influencing adoption; to estimate the effects of sustainable and climate-smart practices on farm profitability, resilience and household welfare, including waste utilisation through the circular economy; to develop a sustainability–resilience framework identifying pathways for transforming vulnerable smallholder dairy farms into economically viable and climate-resilient production systems; and to assess the role, contribution and challenges of smallholder dairy production systems, especially in developing countries, in relation to the global economy.Contributions may address diverse geographical regions and production contexts across low-, middle- and high-income countries, with particular emphasis on farming systems where smallholders play a significant role in milk production, livelihoods, food security and rural economies. Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:• Climate-resilient, low-carbon and environmentally sustainable dairy production, including climate-smart practices, resource-use efficiency, life-cycle assessment, circular and regenerative systems, waste utilisation, and climate adaptation.• Economic sustainability and farm profitability, including productivity, input-use efficiency, financial inclusion, innovative financing, livelihood resilience and poverty reduction.• Technology and digital transformation, including automation, digital tools, innovation adoption and pathways for scaling sustainable dairy technologies.• Resilient dairy value chains and markets, including market access, demand and supply dynamics, value-chain resilience, trade and future market scenarios.• Animal health, welfare, productivity and genetic improvement, including feed and fodder security, biodiversity and sustainable herd management.• Gender, youth and social inclusion, including household livelihoods, employment, food security, intergenerational continuity and the participation of women and young people.• Institutional, policy and governance conditions, including collective action, institutional support, policy innovation and governance for inclusive and resilient dairy development.• Risk, vulnerability and resilience assessment, including the effects of climate, market, technological and institutional pressures on smallholder dairy systems.• Transformation pathways and future scenarios, including trade-offs and synergies, sustainability–resilience frameworks, innovation pathways and inclusive transformation.The Research Topic will consider different article types, including Original Research, Review, Systematic Review, Mini-Review and Perspective articles. Topic editors: Subhasis Mandal, Sanjit Maiti, Gunjan Bhandari Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85175/transformation-pathways-for-sustainability-and-resilience-of-smallholder-dairy-production-systems