Meat supply chains have to face 3 major global stakes for their sustainable development: health (animal and human), equity and environment. Rising demand for meat and livestock sector development have serious consequences in terms of natural resources depletion, animal health, public health, structure of production and access to markets. In the same time, amenities of livestock production should be strengthen and better acknowledged in policies. We suggest 5 principles that will allow the sector to successfully improve its sustainability: efficiency in using natural resources, conservation of resources, protection of rural livelihoods, resilience of communities and ecosystems and governance of private and public initiatives.