The continuing prevalence of poverty and the existence of food insecurity are two of the major risk that threaten the development and stability of countries. Livestock has the possibility to contribute to the sustainable solution of both. In order to achieve this we must: a) Improve both the contribution of livestock to the national GDP and to individual family and producers incomes; b) Work to change the existing popular views around animal production and to reduce any possible impacts of animals to the environment and health; c) Improve the articulation and integration of value chains; d) Improve public policies in order to create an enabling environment for the activity and investment; and e) To bridge the distance between the agricultural innovation systems and the true needs of livestock and all the actors in the value chains. It is proposed that ALPA serves as articulator and coordinator of an inter-American effort to strengthen the contribution of livestock to food security and poverty reduction.