45% of earth surface devoted to livestock production
Livestock systems occupy 45% of the global surface area with a value of at least $1.4 trillion. Livestock industries and value chains employ at least 1.3 billion people globally and directly support the livelihoods of 800 million poor smallholders in the developing world. p. 1 [FML wrote to the institute questioning the 45% but got no respond. 1.14]
Philip Thornton, Mario Herrero and Polly Ericksen, "Livestock and climate change," Issue Brief, (International Livestock Research Institute: November, 2011) http://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/10601/IssueBrief3.pdf [verified 4/15/14]