Greenhouse gas emissions by the livestock sector could be cut by as much as 30 percent through the wider use of existing best practices and technologies, according to a new study released today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

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FAO made the prediction upon releasing is latest report, Tackling climate change through livestock: A global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities, which, the farming and development organisation claims, represents the most comprehensive estimate made to-date of livestock's contribution to global warming – as well as the sector's potential to help tackle the problem.

All told, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with livestock supply chains add up to 7.1 gigatonnes (GT) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) per year – or 14.5 percent of all human-caused GHG releases.

The main sources of emissions are: feed production and processing (45 percent of the total), outputs of GHG during digestion by cows (39 percent), and manure decomposition (10 percent). The remainder is attributable to the processing and transportation of animal products. FAO analysts examined various areas of the livestock supply chain, including the production and transport of animal feed, on-farm energy use, emissions from animal digestion and manure decay, as well as post-slaughter transport, refrigeration and packaging of animal products to work out the sector's overall footprint.

Large potential for cuts

The hope is that, by drilling down into where and how emissions occur, analysts can identify areas where significant emission reductions are already within the reach of livestock producers. According to the report's authors, wider adoption of existing best practices and technologies in feeding, health and husbandry, and manure management – as well as greater use of currently neglected technologies such as biogas generators and other energy-saving devices – could help the global livestock sector cut its outputs of global warming gases as much as 30 percent, largely by becoming more efficient and reducing energy waste.

The sustainable intensification methods advocated by the FAO (the organisation has its own 'Save and Grow' programme to promote the concept), which aim to increase efficiency and best practice, have found wide ranging support, but there are concerns that the approach could fail to address certain socio-political issues or stop short of implementing radical changes which experts agree are needed to deliver global food security and mitigate climate change. Green group Friends of the Earth has criticised the "sustainable intensification of livestock [as support for] further increasing yields and intensity of livestock systems to reduce emissions per unit of meat produced… despite vast amounts of evidence on the urgent need to reduce intensive livestock production and consumption globally."

In a report released last year, Friends of the Earth warned that, "by excluding nothing the concept [of sustainable intensification] has become a catch-all, and is used to endorse existing policies… And by focussing on increasing yield, sustainable intensification fails to address the political and economic issues that prevent millions of people from having access to safe and nutritious food." 

Nevertheless, Ren Wang, FAO Assistant Director-General for Agriculture and Consumer Protection, said on Thursday, "These new findings show that the potential to improve the sector's environmental performance is significant – and that realizing that potential is indeed do-able." Reinforcing FoE's concerns somewhat, he continued, "These efficiency gains can be achieved by improving practices, and don't necessitate changing production systems. But we need political will, better policies and most importantly, joint action."

FAO identifies areas for reduction

With world demand for 'livestock products' continuing to grow strongly in almost all developing countries, he added that many efficiency measures would also boost production. Wang said, "it is imperative that the sector starts working now to achieve these reductions, to help offset the increases in overall emissions that future growth in livestock production will entail."

The greatest potential for emissions reductions are found in low productivity ruminant livestock systems in South Asia, Latin America and Africa, according to FAO. The Organisation also found that,  in developed countries where emission intensities are relatively low but the overall volume of production and therefore emissions is high, even small decreases in intensity could still add up to significant gains.

Cattle-raising contributes 65 percent of the livestock sector's total GHG emissions, but also offers the largest potential for reductions. FAO identified three main areas for action in animal agriculture, where improving practices could have the most significant impact. These are promoting more efficient practices, improved grassland management and better manure management.

The Rome-based group called on policy makers to focus on knowledge transfer, financial incentives, tighter regulations, and awareness raising programmes to drive its recommended changes.

FAO added that, in order to ensure participation by developing countries – where much of the sector's mitigation potential is found – responses will need to target not just mitigation goals but also development objectives. The development of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for the livestock sector can help integrate these objectives at the national level. The organisation also said mitigation commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) should be strengthened to ensure efforts are made to reduce emissions.