Join the FAO LEAP Technical Advisory Group to Revise the Guidelines on Environmental Performance of Animal Feeds Supply Chains

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) Partnership, invites qualified experts to apply for membership of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to revise the Environmental Performance of Animal Feeds Supply Chains: Guidelines for Assessment.

Published in 2016, the guidelines provide a harmonized life-cycle assessment framework for evaluating the environmental performance of animal feed supply chains. They cover feed production, processing, compound-feed manufacture, on-farm ration preparation, transport, and trade, as well as system boundaries, allocation, life-cycle inventory, data quality, uncertainty, interpretation and reporting. The publication has recorded more than 9,000 downloads, demonstrating sustained global demand for robust and consistent approaches to feed-supply-chain assessment.

Why a revision is needed

Since 2016, the feed sector and the scientific evidence base have evolved considerably. New datasets, feed ingredients, technologies and mitigation approaches are available, while policy and market attention has increased on climate action, resource efficiency, circularity, biodiversity, water, soil health and land use.

The revision will retain the established LEAP life-cycle assessment approach while updating methodological content, references, data, figures and practical examples. It will also strengthen structured links with related LEAP guidelines and technical reports, including work on feed additives, biodiversity, water use, soil carbon, nutrient flows, circular bioeconomy and methane mitigation. The aim is to ensure that the revised guidance remains scientifically robust, practically useful and relevant across diverse feed supply chains and regions.

Role of the Technical Advisory Group

FAO LEAP will establish a focused TAG of up to ten experts to guide and contribute to the revision. Under the technical oversight of the LEAP Partnership, TAG members will help to:

• review and update core methodology, scientific references, figures, default data, impact-assessment methods, allocation approaches, data-quality requirements, uncertainty analysis and reporting guidance;
• assess emerging feed ingredients, innovations and mitigation options;
• strengthen the interoperability and cross-references between the feed guidelines and other relevant LEAP guidance;
• identify and develop practical case studies and successful implementation stories from different regions and feed-supply-chain contexts;
• contribute to technical review, peer review and public review processes; and
• support the development of a dissemination and capacity-development approach for the revised guidelines.

Expertise sought

Applications are welcome from experts with demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas:

• life-cycle assessment and environmental-footprint methods;
• feed-crop and forage production;
• feed ingredients, feed processing, compounding and formulation;
• co-products, circular feed resources and food-industry by-products;
• environmental impacts, greenhouse-gas mitigation and resource efficiency in feed supply chains;
• environmental data, modelling, inventory development and uncertainty analysis; and
• sustainable livestock systems, feed-industry practice, policy or capacity development.

FAO LEAP will seek a balanced TAG reflecting complementary technical expertise, geographic diversity and experience across research, government, the private sector, producer organisations and other relevant stakeholders.

Indicative timeline

The complete revision process is expected to run for approximately 12 months, from November 2026 to October 2027. TAG members will be expected to participate actively throughout the process, including in virtual technical exchanges and review of draft materials. One in-person kick-off meeting is planned in Rome in mid-November 2026.

What TAG members gain

Participation in the TAG offers an opportunity to:

• be recognized as a FAO LEAP technical expert and contribute directly to an internationally recognized guideline with global relevance for sustainable livestock and feed systems;
• help shape the technical direction and practical applicability of the revised methodology;
• exchange knowledge and develop collaboration with an international, multidisciplinary network of experts and practitioners;
• contribute, where appropriate and in line with FAO procedures, to joint scientific publications and technical outputs arising from the revision process;
• be considered for opportunities to contribute to international and regional capacity-development, training, technical-exchange and dissemination activities related to the revised guideline; and
• bring regional, sectoral and operational perspectives into a global technical process, with acknowledgement for technical contributions in line with FAO and LEAP procedures.

Important information

TAG membership is a voluntary, non-remunerated technical contribution. It does not constitute employment, consultancy or any other paid assignment with FAO.

How to apply

Interested experts are invited to apply through the online form by 23 October 2026: 

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Kx6mCrnCvr 

The application should demonstrate the applicant’s relevant expertise and experience, the perspective they would bring to the TAG and their availability to contribute actively to the revision process.

For further information, please contact the FAO LEAP Secretariat at Livestock-Partnership@fao.org.