This document summarizes livestock and dairy production's significant contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and discusses options for reducing emissions. Livestock accounts for around 15-18% of global GHG emissions. Meeting projected global demand increases in meat and dairy by 2050 without changes would be unsustainable. Technological improvements could reduce emissions by 13-30% by 2020 and 50% by 2050, but reductions in consumption are also needed to see an actual decrease in emissions. To meet UK climate targets, livestock consumption may need to be cut by 11-36% by 2020 and 48% by 2050. Approaches that focus on ecological constraints and meeting needs rather than demand are recommended.

1. Livestock & Climate Change Food Climate Research Network FCRN-LIDC workshop - 12 June 2009

3. 1. Overall food related GHG emissions

4. The LCA perspective Land use change

6. UKL Food GHG impacts – around 19% As % of UK consumption related GHG emissions est. at 234 MTCe – source Druckman et al 2008

7. Former forest, Matto Grosso Brazil

8. 2. Focus on meat and dairy

10. Livestock: benefits & disbenefits ruminants Limited by legislation Benefits Disbenefits Comment Nutrition Excellent for protein, calcium, iron, vit B12 Excessive fat; protein can be more than needed Animal foods not essential; plants can substitute Non food benefits Leather, wool, manure, rendered products Manure can be a pollutant Quantities needed? Substitution cost Eating will always produce an impact Generally plant foods have lower GHG profile Carbon storage Pasture land stores carbon Excessive grazing & land use change releases carbon Land use change from pasture to crops will generate CO 2 Resource efficiency Livestock can consume grass & byproducts Supplemented with grains & cereals in intensive systems Byproducts can be used directly as energy source in AD systems Geography Some land not suitable for cropping Arable land used for livestock Intensified systems are arable hungry

11. However.... global trends in demand... Source: FAO 2006 ...are unsustainable 2000 (6 bn people) 2050 (9 bn people) Total demand – meat (tonnes) 228 459 Total demand – milk (tonnes) 475 883

12. Inequality continues: p.c. meat to 2050 Source: FAO 2006

13. Per cap. milk to 2050

14. 3. Reducing livestock emissions Technological options Behaviour change

15. Food’s impacts and the importance of the different gases Livestock approx 80% agricultural stage impacts Livestock’s role here? Relationship? Methane from livestock Nitrous oxide from livestock and crops Carbon dioxide from fossil energy use * Carbon dioxide from fossil energy use Beyond farm gate Up to farm gate Carbon dioxide from lost carbon sequest- ration * Note: fossil energy inputs are not huge in themselves but enable scale of production which , for example, turns livestock and its other emissions into a problem

22. 4. Conclusions

28. Thank you Tara Garnett [email_address] www.fcrn.org.uk Food Climate Research Network