In 2014 a qualitative assessment of manure management was conducted. The assessment covered 34 countries in Central and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa and South, East and Southeast Asia. Purpose was to identify barriers withholding livestock farmers from improving their current manure management practice.

The assessment focused on national policies and the enabling environment.
The three sub-continents were preselected by the CCAC Agriculture Initiative based on their present environmental status and the expected worsening by a foreseen increase of livestock production. Participation in the assessment was voluntary. Some countries with known environmental problems due to livestock did not respond.

More in-depth information about current manure management practices on livestock farms was gathered in six countries: Vietnam, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Malawi, Argentina and Costa Rica.

Except for some internationally operating NGOs a general lack of awareness and knowledge about the potential value of a good integrated manure management (IMM) is noted with all relevant stakeholders.
Good manure management (MM) has many benefits, such as mitigating methane emissions, maintaining soil health and improving crop production. Especially the increase of landless livestock farms is a growing concern, since they disconnect livestock production from crop production.