Organizational Setting
The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) promotes and facilitates the sustainable development of the livestock sector, optimizing its contribution to nutrition, food security and rural poverty reduction. NSA integrates scientific, technical expertise and policy advice, it facilitates policy dialogue (including through intergovernmental bodies), encourages good governance, manages knowledge and provides information, analysis and technical assistance for the development and implementation of innovative solutions to produce safe animal products more sustainably, efficiently, and in a more integrated manner.
The post is located in the Sustainable Animal Production, Feed and Genetics Branch (NSAP) of the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
The activities of the Branch cover all production systems, from pastoralism to intensive systems, including crop-livestock integrated systems, and aims to enhance their sustainability in its three pillars: environmental, economic and social.
Reporting Lines
The Animal Production Officer (Feed and Feeding Systems) reports to the Chief of NSAP and is under the overall supervision of the Director, NSA.
Technical Focus
Improving feed production and feeding systems for greater economic and environmental efficiency and equity in the livestock sector, focusing on circular bioeconomy through the development of methods and tools, information and data, and innovations and technology.
Key Results
Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with FAO Strategic Framework.
Key Functions
Specific Functions
o Develops strategies to improve the efficiency of natural resource use for the production, processing, storage and use of feeds and forage.
o Develops and advises on adequate feeding plans for livestock of different species and in different production systems taking into account the nutrient requirements of the animals, nutrient supply from the feed and nutrient bioavailability or anti-nutritional substances in the diet.
o Enhances use of local feed, including pasture, and suitable agro-industrial by-products and explores novel and alternative feed, including insect-based products.
o Provides technical advice and training on quality control systems in feed analysis laboratories.
o Develops guidelines and reports related to animal feed and feeding systems, specifically on the processing of feed and its effects on feed quality and animal performance, optimization of nutrient use efficiency (to reduce environmentally relevant emissions), use of zootechnical feed additives (e.g. organic acids, enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, phytobiotics, etc.) and influence of undesirable substances.
o Develops and promotes solutions to improve animal feed and feeding, especially in resource-poor environments, to improve production sustainability and efficiency, as well as resilience of production systems.
o Develops animal nutrition and feed-based solutions to enhance livestock productivity, including through the application of new technologies in the field of animal nutrition, while decreasing environmentally important emissions and water consumption in primary food production.
o Supports countries in conducting national feed inventories and assessments, and in developing the capacity of small-scale producers on animal feed and feeding.
o Identifies and formulates projects aiming at developing the feed sector specifically in the context of developing countries.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
Competencies
Technical/Functional Skills
This vacancy is archived.