Greater than one half of the world's agricultural area is devoted to grasslands. Almost a quarter of the total agricultural land area in the world is devoted to the production of animals and feed. Grasslands and forages are the basis of ruminant animal production. Human nutrition is significantly improved when milk and meat is part of a person's diet. Better use of world grasslands could reduce malnutrition and associated diseases in virtually all of the developing world's 4.5 billion people. Meat and milk contribute 20% of total dietary protein in less developed countries compared to 65% in a developed country like Canada.
Agricultural mismanagement of grasslands in every developing country is causing serious soil erosion and environmental degradation. Agricultural development is severely restricted by the lack of information and technology transfer - particularly in the poorest countries in the world.
The International Grassland Congress brings scientists, educators, policy-makers and top farm producers from developed and developing countries together to foster and improve the understanding of grasslands and increase the network for transferring knowledge and technology.