WHAT IS THE GFP?

The GFP is a global network of lighthouse farms and aligned institutions dedicated to developing and promoting transformational solutions for sustainable ruminant production. Our highly instrumented lighthouse farms, living laboratories, blend cutting-edge science with practical farming to create economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable systems. Through a hub-and-spoke model, our 19 lighthouse (research) farms (hubs) collaborate with local commercial farms (spokes) and partner institutions, fostering knowledge exchange across diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and climatic zones. We empower farmers, researchers, and policymakers to optimise livestock systems co-delivering services for humans whilst protecting the environment, ensuring no one is left behind.

Embracing diversity over a one-size-fits-all approach, the GFP tailors solutions to varied agro-climatic systems, from tropical smallholder farms to temperate pastures, while respecting cultural contexts. Our multidisciplinary network, spanning 28 institutions and 50+ people across six continents, standardises methodologies, harnesses big data, and applies advanced technologies to drive innovation. By engaging stakeholders – farmers, rural communities, industry, policymakers, and the public – we build capacity through workshops, conferences, scientific exchanges, and training for early-career researchers, delivering inclusive, scalable solutions that advance sustainable production, rural livelihoods, and environmental stewardship.

Recognised by the FAO in 2013 for exemplary grassland practices and invited to the 2023 Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, the GFP delivers tangible outcomes. Our lighthouse farms provide evidence-based practices that inspire farmers, inform policy, and connect producers with consumers. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and global knowledge-sharing, we empower resilient livelihoods, promote sustainable intensification and agroecology, and contribute to a healthier planet, aligning with global sustainability and equity goals.

Explore our projects, workshops and conferences, internships and publications to learn how our global network is transforming ruminant livestock systems. Discover how we foster innovation, share knowledge, and promote sustainable practices that benefit farmers, communities, and the environment worldwide.

The GFP network is a connection of like-minded researchers and institutes that have agreed to share best practice, data, resources, and to work together in developing research projects to realise change towards sustainable ruminant livestock. We therefore insist that new members have an existing financial link (project) with a current member and that they sign the Statement of Intent. For more details, contact our Chair.

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