Dr. Kerry Senior, Director at Leather UK, and Secretary, International Council of Tanners (ICT) writes on LinkedIn: Interesting first day at FAO Global Conference for Sustainable Livestock Transformation.

Those protesting outside may not be entirely wrong and the work presented inside may not be the whole solution. However, the progress made towards more sustainable livestock cannot be ignored and neither can the critical role of sustainable livestock in feeding the global population and protecting and repairing the environment.

Two new guidelines addressing ecosystem services (the role of livestock in protecting biodiversity etc) and the circular bio economy were launched.

The issues are complex and it is not a binary choice but to deny the necessity of livestock is folly.

Leather, these issues are critical. Leather has no influence on the rearing and impact of livestock but those impacts weigh heavily on it.

Better livestock means that the unearned impact carried through to leather will be reduced. Leather may not drive these issues but it is essential that we understand them and how they impact on us