A study published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on the 26th indicated that livestock farmers could reduce carbon emissions by up to 30% without rebuilding the entire production system if they improved their operational techniques. Methods included improving feeding, animal health management, and manure treatment techniques, as well as utilizing biogas power generation and energy-saving devices.
FAO experts say the new report has been structurally revised and incorporates the latest data, and was prepared in accordance with the latest guidelines published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the 27th. The FAO points out that livestock-related greenhouse gas emissions amount to 710 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually, accounting for 14.5% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Pierre Gerber, a senior policy official at the FAO, said, "The calculated absolute carbon emission capacity is very similar to that of the 2006 report."
In 2006, the FAO published a report titled "Livestock's Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Choices," which pointed out that the global meat production process accounts for 18% of total greenhouse gas emissions, more than all the world's cars, trains, and airplanes combined.
The FAO meticulously analyzed carbon emissions at every stage of the livestock supply chain, including production, feed transportation, farm energy, animal digestion and manure decay, and even post-slaughter transportation, freezing, and packaging. The report identifies the main sources of carbon emissions from livestock as follows:
– Feed production and processing: 45%
– Greenhouse gas emissions from cattle digesting food: account for 39%
– Fecal decomposition: 10%.
– Other: Transportation and handling of animal products.
"The analysis shows that there is still great potential and feasibility for reducing carbon emissions in the livestock industry. It can be achieved simply by improving operational methods, without changing the entire production system. But we need political ambition, better policies, and cooperative action," said Ren Wang, Assistant Director General of Agriculture and Consumer Protection at the FAO.
The report emphasizes that improving operational methods does not require changing the entire production system or large-scale transformations such as converting individual farms into industrialized livestock farms. The report recommends adopting better feeding, animal health management, and manure treatment technologies, and making full use of biogas generators and energy-saving devices, which can help increase livestock efficiency, reduce energy waste, and reduce carbon emissions by up to 30%.
The FAO further points out that improved feeding practices and breeding techniques can enhance animal health, which in turn helps increase cattle productivity. Many of the FAO's initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions can also simultaneously increase production capacity, provide more food, and generate higher incomes.
The regions with the greatest potential for reducing carbon emissions are Asia, Latin America, and Africa, where livestock systems have lower productivity. However, while developed countries have relatively low carbon intensity, their overall carbon emissions remain high due to higher production volumes. The FAO points out that even slight reductions in intensification can have significant carbon reduction effects for developed countries.
Sources: Environmental Information Center (2013-10-01)
