Meat production responsible for 31% of EU GHG emissions; livestock reduction can make important GHG reductions

According to a paper presented to the Society of Animal Feed Technologists (UK), food production from farm to fork is responsible for up to 31 percent of EU greenhouse gas emissions and 20% of UK emissions. Livestock production is responsible for around half of these emissions. The more meat we produce and eat the bigger that carbon footprint will get. The paper states that:

“[C]rops which are suitable for human consumption are currently used to feed animals, and this is an inefficient process. A shift away from livestock based production is likely to lead to a reduction in food related greenhouse gas emissions.”

and also:

“[F]rom an environmental perspective, a reduction in livestock production can lead to important greenhouse gas reductions”

The paper also explains the primary and secondary impacts of livestock on GHG emissions, such as:

• fertiliser production and transport for feed crops and pasture (CO2 and N2O)
• feed manufacture and transport (CO2)
• livestock (enteric fermentation) (CH4)
• manure and urine (CH4 and N2O)
• slaughtering
• processing
• refrigeration
• transport
• cooking (CO2 and refrigerant gases)
• and non-EU soya imports (mainly from South America) which account for 75% of the UK’s oilcake imports and 24% of total feed imports.

Source: Animal feed, livestock and greenhouse gas emissions: What are the issues? (PDF) – T. Garnett , Food Climate Research Network, Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey

Date: 25 January 2007