January 19, 2010

Livestock farm emissions far higher than expected

Livestock farming accounts more than half of all agricultural greenhouse emissions, according to a new report.

The study, by WWF-UK and the Food Climate Research Network, estimates the food consumed in the UK accounts for 30% of the country's carbon footprint. Previous estimates put the figure closer to 20%, but this latest study is the first to incorporate the impact of land use changes overseas.

Taking changes overseas into account increases the estimate of emissions attributed to UK food consumption from 152 to 253 million tonnes CO2. Land use change, mainly deforestation to create agricultural land, is cited a major source of climate changing emissions.

According to the report, all stages of the UK food chain give rise to emissions, which includes production and initial processing (34%); manufacturing, distribution, retail and cooking (26%) and agriculturally-induced land use change (40%).

Livestock farming contributes to 57% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

The report concludes that no one solution alone can reduce emissions to this extent and it calls on the government and industry decision-makers to recognise that a focus on technology alone is not enough - food consumption must change too.

Recommendations include increasing production efficiency, including improved crop yields and changes to animal feeds to reduce methane emissions.

Dietary changes would also ease land pressures, in terms of reducing the amount of land needed to produce food, according to the report.