Grasslands

Grasslands are the largest land use system on Earth, comprising approximately 26% of the world’s land area and 70% of the world’s agricultural area. It is estimated that over 800 million people rely on grasslands for their livelihoods, largely through livestock production. Grasslands provide a low cost source of feed and nutrients for ruminant livestock and thereby contribute to edible food for human consumption from land often unsuited to other agricultural production. Ruminant livestock are also unique in that their digestive system allows them to live on grass when other simple stomach animals cannot.