Livestock systems are central to rural economies, food security, and cultural identity across low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), particularly in the tropics. They also strongly influence diet quality and food safety. Yet these systems are increasingly strained by environmental degradation, including tropical deforestation linked to cattle production, large-scale monocropping of feed crops, persistent malnutrition, and intensifying climate change. Current global recommendations to reduce meat consumption often overlook regional nutritional needs and the socioeconomic realities of LMICs, contributing to widening inequalities. These challenges highlight an urgent need for policies that support transformative, locally-approproate change. Agroecology offers a practical and evidence-based pathway to making livestock systems more sustainable, climate-resilient, and equitable. By integrating ecological principles with traditional knowledge, diversified production, and social inclusion, agroecological livestock systems can reduce environmental impacts, improve animal health and productivity, support safer and more diverse diets, and strengthen livelihoods through circular nutrient flows and resource efficiency. This white paper synthesizes current research, guiding principles, practical approaches, and policy considerations for advancing agroecological practices in LMICs' livestock systems. It examines the interconnections among animal health and productivity, environmental management and health, and human health including nutrition and well-being, drawing on insights from global communities of practice working on multifunctional landscapes. It advocates for policies that balance productivity with environmental stewardship and social justice, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies that reflect local ecological, economic, and cultural context rather than “one-size- fits-all” solutions. Selected case studies from Africa, Asia, and Latin America illustrate feasibl