scholarly journals Emissions from Animal Agriculture—16.5% Is the New Minimum Figure

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6276
Author(s):  
Richard Twine
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Recent Analysis ◽  
Multiple Stakeholders ◽  
Animal Agriculture ◽  
Minimum Estimate ◽  
United Nations Food ◽  
Animal Consumption ◽  
Agricultural Organization

Knowledge production within the climate sciences is quickly taken up by multiple stakeholders, reproduced in scientific citation and the broader culture, even when it is no longer accurate. This article accomplishes two goals: firstly, it contributes to the clarification of the quantification of emissions from animal agriculture, and secondly, it considers why the dominant framing of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) on this subject focuses on maximizing production efficiency. Specifically, analysing the FAO’s own work on this topic shows that the often-used FAO estimate that emissions from animal agriculture amount to 14.5% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is now out of date. In returning to the FAO’s own explanation of its data sources and its more recent analysis of emissions from animal agriculture, this article finds that the figure of minimum estimate should be updated to 16.5%. The tendency of the FAO to prioritize a technological approach focused on making animal production more “eco-efficient” is critically examined in light of many other evidence-based calls for reductions in animal consumption. An explanation for this FAO approach is offered in terms of a type of epistemological bias.

Down scaling to regional assessment of greenhouse gas emissions to enable consistency in accounting for emissions reduction projects and national inventory accounts for northern beef production in Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra J. Eady ◽  
Guillaume Havard ◽  
Steven G. Bray ◽  
William Holmes ◽  
Javi Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
National Accounts ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
National Inventory ◽  
State Territory

This paper explores the effect of using regional data for livestock attributes on estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the northern beef industry in Australia, compared with using state/territory-wide values, as currently used in Australia’s national GHG inventory report. Regional GHG emissions associated with beef production are reported for 21 defined agricultural statistical regions within state/territory jurisdictions. A management scenario for reduced emissions that could qualify as an Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) project was used to illustrate the effect of regional level model parameters on estimated abatement levels. Using regional parameters, instead of state level parameters, for liveweight (LW), LW gain and proportion of cows lactating and an expanded number of livestock classes, gives a 5.2% reduction in estimated emissions (range +12% to –34% across regions). Estimated GHG emissions intensity (emissions per kilogram of LW sold) varied across the regions by up to 2.5-fold, ranging from 10.5 kg CO2-e kg–1 LW sold for Darling Downs, Queensland, through to 25.8 kg CO2-e kg–1 LW sold for the Pindan and North Kimberley, Western Australia. This range was driven by differences in production efficiency, reproduction rate, growth rate and survival. This suggests that some regions in northern Australia are likely to have substantial opportunities for GHG abatement and higher livestock income. However, this must be coupled with the availability of management activities that can be implemented to improve production efficiency; wet season phosphorus (P) supplementation being one such practice. An ERF case study comparison showed that P supplementation of a typical-sized herd produced an estimated reduction of 622 t CO2-e year–1, or 7%, compared with a non-P supplemented herd. However, the different model parameters used by the National Inventory Report and ERF project means that there was an anomaly between the herd emissions for project cattle excised from the national accounts (13 479 t CO2-e year–1) and the baseline herd emissions estimated for the ERF project (8 896 t CO2-e year–1) before P supplementation was implemented. Regionalising livestock model parameters in both ERF projects and the national accounts offers the attraction of being able to more easily and accurately reflect emissions savings from this type of emissions reduction project in Australia’s national GHG accounts.

Interactions between animals and machines

1992 ◽  
Vol 1992 ◽  
pp. 35-35
Author(s):  
C. M. Wathes
Keyword(s):  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Machine Design ◽  
Animal Agriculture ◽  
Animal Physiology ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
End Effectors ◽  
Animal Perception

A new age of mechanisation of animal agriculture is dawning following advances in robotic engineering, coupled with current knowledge of animal physiology, behaviour and disease. The advent of automated machines equipped with novel sensors and controlled by cheap microprocessors will eliminate many of the hazardous, tedious or unpleasant chores currently undertaken by farmers. Automatic attachment of teat cups to dairy cows, robotic sheep shearing and mechanical harvesting of broilers are now feasible and commercial exploitation is likely within a decade. Machines may tackle some tasks which are too difficult, dangerous or costly for man, who may be better employed elsewhere. Paradoxically, replacement of man by robotics designed according to animal needs may improve not only production efficiency but also welfare. Utilisation of robotics in animal agriculture requires research in sensing techniques, data interpretation, design of end effectors, machine control, and animal perception and response. Animal applications provide a particularly intriguing challenge to robotics engineers because animals are (relatively) fragile, and mobile. The dynamic interaction of animals with machines presents novel opportunities for animals to control their own environment as well as difficulties in machine design. Potential applications of robotics in animal husbandry are legion and include many husbandry tasks involving inspection, monitoring, handling, manipulation, treatment and caretaking.

scholarly journals Global Sustainability through Closed-Loop Precision Animal Agriculture

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (06) ◽  
pp. S19-S23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mythra Vsm Balakuntala ◽  
Mustafa Ayad ◽  
Richard M. Voyles ◽  
Robin White ◽  
Robert Nawrocki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Animal Agriculture ◽  
Production Methods ◽  
Standards Of Living ◽  
The Us ◽  
Multiple Challenges ◽  
The Many

The Earth is at a sociotechnical crossroads with humanity hanging in the balance – and high-tech agriculture can help bail us out. Human population growth, increasing urbanization and rising incomes is likely to drastically increase demand for animal agriculture in the coming decades. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts the need to double global food production by 2050 as the global population increases from 7.3 billion in 2015 to 9.7 billion in 2050 as shown in Fig 1. Much of this growth will be concentrated in the world’s poorest countries where standards of living are set to rise rapidly, increasing the demand for resource-intensive meat and dairy products which has been the historical trend. At the same time, agriculture in the 21st century faces multiple challenges: it must produce more food and fiber to feed a growing population with a smaller rural labor force, produce additional feedstocks for a potentially huge bioenergy market, contribute to overall development in the many agriculture-dependent developing countries, adopt more efficient and sustainable production methods, and adapt to climate change. Additionally, the world’s arable land is already fully employed and shrinking -- the world has lost a third of its arable land due to erosion or pollution in the past 40 years. All these factors put enormous pressure on improving the production efficiency of the world’s supply of food to meet the demand.

Targeted technologies for nitrous oxide abatement from animal agriculture

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. M. de Klein ◽  
R. J. Eckard
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitors ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
Animal Agriculture ◽  
Management Interventions

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions account for ~10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with most of these emissions (~90%) deriving from agricultural practices. Animal agriculture potentially contributes up to 50% of total agricultural N2O emissions. In intensive animal agriculture, high N2O emission rates generally coincide with anaerobic soil conditions and high soil NO3–, primarily from animal urine patches. This paper provides an overview of animal, feed-based and soil or management abatement technologies for ruminant animal agriculture targeted at reducing the size of the soil NO3– pool or improving soil aeration. Direct measurements of N2O emissions from potential animal and feed-based intervention technologies are scarce. However, studies have shown that they have the potential to reduce urinary N excretion by 3–60% and thus reduce associated N2O emissions. Research on the effect of soil and water management interventions is generally further advanced and N2O reduction potentials of up to 90% have been measured in some instances. Of the currently available technologies, nitrification inhibitors, managing animal diets and fertiliser management show the best potential for reducing emissions in the short-term. However, strategies should always be evaluated in a whole-system context, to ensure that reductions in one part of the system do not stimulate higher emissions elsewhere. Current technologies reviewed here could deliver up to 50% reduction from an animal housing system, but only up to 15% from a grazing-based system. However, given that enteric methane emissions form the majority of emissions from grazing systems, a 15% abatement of N2O is likely to translate to a 2–4% decrease in total GHG emissions at a farm scale. Clearly, further research is needed to develop technologies for improving N cycling and reducing N2O emissions from grazing-based animal production systems.

scholarly journals Cultivating climate resilience: a participatory assessment of organic and conventional rice systems in the Philippines

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Heckelman ◽  
Sean Smukler ◽  
Hannah Wittman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Adaptation Capacity ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Organic Rice ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Participatory Assessment ◽  
United Nations Food

AbstractClimate change poses serious threats to agriculture. As a primary staple crop and major contributor to agriculturally derived greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, rice systems are of particular significance to building climate resilience. We report on a participatory assessment of climate resilience in organic and conventional rice systems located in four neighboring villages in Negros Occidental, Philippines. The Philippines is one of the foremost countries impacted by climate change, with an increasing incidence of climate-related disturbances and extensive coastlines, high population density and heavy dependence on agriculture. Using the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's Self-evaluation and Holistic Assessment of climate Resilience of farmers and Pastoralists (SHARP) tool, we measured 13 agroecosystem indicators of climate resilience, and assessed the degree to which household, farm, and community mechanisms and outcomes impact adaptation capacity, mitigation potential and vulnerability. We used a participatory approach to situate these indicators in their socio-ecological context, and identify targeted interventions for enhancing climate resilience based on local farmer experiences and socio-ecological conditions. Comparison of climate resilience indicators across organic and conventional rice systems in this region indicated that organic rice systems are more climate resilient than their conventional counterparts. As such, increased policy support for the development of organic rice systems are critically important as an adaptive mechanism to augment food security, mitigate GHG emissions and improve climate resilience in the Philippines.

scholarly journals The Role of Soil N2O Emissions in Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity: An Empirical Study from China around 2006 when Agricultural Tax Was Abolished

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaocang Xu ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Linhong Chen ◽  
Chengjie Liu
Keyword(s):  
Total Factor Productivity ◽  
Regional Difference ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Factor Productivity ◽  
The Impact

The decision in 2006 to abolish the agricultural tax, which had lasted for thousands of years, contributed to the prosperity of agriculture, and with it the growing importance of soil N2O emissions in China. However, most of the previous literature ignored soil N2O emissions due to their too small share in total agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This paper attempts to take soil N2O emissions as an important variable in the measurement of agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP), which incorporates environmental pollution into the analytical framework of agricultural production efficiency. Three impressive results were found. Firstly, soil N2O emissions play an increasingly important role in agricultural GHG emissions. The proportion of soil N2O emissions in agricultural GHG emissions increased from 4.52% in 1998 to 4.83% in 2006, and then to 5.36% in 2016. Secondly, the regional difference of soil N2O emissions in AGTFP is visible. In 2016, although soil N2O emissions accounted for a small proportion (about 5%) of the total agricultural GHG emissions in China, the AGTFP including soil N2O emissions was much lower than that excluding soil N2O emissions, especially in areas with high agricultural and population density. Finally, over time, soil N2O emissions have had an increasing effect on AGTFP. Compared with 1998–2006, the impact of excluding soil N2O emissions on AGTFP in 2007–2016 was more evident than that including soil N2O emissions.

Tracking sequestered carbon in the timber trade

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 407-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur G. Blundell
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Timber Species ◽  
Trade Data ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
Recent Meeting ◽  
Restrictive Trade ◽  
Timber Trade ◽  
United Nations Food ◽  
Agricultural Organization

The most recent meeting discussing the Kyoto Protocol focused on market-based mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gases. This could pave the way for initiatives that allow polluters to offset their emissions if they buy carbon sequestered through reforestation (Sandalow & Bowles 2001). But rather than lose credit when the trees are harvested, investors must continue to track the sequestered carbon once trees become timber. I examined trade statistics for the best-tracked timber species, namely mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla King (Meliaceae). Although mahogany is regulated by one of the most restrictive trade agreements, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), I found discrepancies in USA trade statistics of c. 30%, representing c. US$ 100 million over the last 4 years. For comparison, I also calculated differences in trade data for all sawnwood, according to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO); discrepancies between USA and exporter reports were c. 38%. Large accounting problems must be solved before sequestered carbon should become a globally traded commodity.

scholarly journals Emisje gazów cieplarnianych z rolnictwa w latach 1990-2014

2017 ◽  
Vol 17(32) (2) ◽  
pp. 244-255
Author(s):  
Alina Syp
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Greenhouse Gasses ◽  
The World ◽  
Agricultural Emissions ◽  
Reduction Of Emissions ◽  
Reduce Emissions ◽  
United Nations Food ◽  
The Eu

Agriculture is the second, after energy sector, emitter of greenhouse gasses (GHG), of which increased concentrations in the atmosphere are caused by human activities. In order to reduce GHG, parties ratifying the Kioto protocol have committed to prepare annual emission reports and pledged to reduce emissions. The aim of the study was to analyse changes of agricultural emissions in the World, the European Union (EU) and Poland in 1990-2014. The research uses the United Nations Food and Agricultural database (FAOSTAT), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Chang (UNFCCC) and World Resources Institute (CAIT) databases. The analysis shows that in the World, in the examined period the total GHG emissions increased by 85%, whereas in agriculture by 15%. However, the EU as a member of Annex I parties had reduced total and agricultural emissions by 24% and 23%, respectively. The reduction of emissions was the result of the implementation of pro-environmental regulations.

Potential solutions to the major greenhouse-gas issues facing Australasian dairy farming

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Eckard ◽  
H. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Dairy Industry ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
On Farm

The Australasian dairy industry is facing the dual challenges of increasing productivity, while also reducing its emissions of the greenhouse gases (GHG) methane and nitrous oxide. Following the COP21 Paris Agreement, all sectors of the economy will be expected to contribute to GHG abatement. Enteric methane is the major source of GHG emissions from dairy production systems (>70%), followed by nitrous oxide (13%) and methane (12%) from animal waste, with nitrogen (N)-fertiliser use contributing ~3.5% of total on-farm non-carbon dioxide equivalent (non-CO2e) emissions. Research on reducing methane emissions from dairy cattle has focussed on feeding dietary supplements (e.g. tannins, dietary oils and wheat), rumen modification (e.g. vaccine, inhibitors), breeding and animal management. Research on reducing nitrous oxide emissions has focussed on improving N fertiliser efficiency and reducing urinary N loss. Profitable options for significant abatement on farm are still limited, with the industry focusing instead on improving production efficiency, while reducing emission intensity (t CO2e/t product). Absolute emission reduction will become an imperative as the world moves towards carbon neutrality by 2050 and, thus, a priority for research. However, even with implementation of best-practice abatement, it is likely that some residual emissions will remain in the foreseeable future. The soil organic carbon content of dairy soils under well fertilised, high-rainfall or irrigated permanent pastures are already high, therefore limiting the potential for further soil carbon sequestration as an offset against these residual emissions. The Australasian dairy industry will, therefore, also need to consider how these residual emissions will be offset through carbon sequestration mainly in trees and, to a more limited extent, increasing soil organic carbon.

Managing livestock enterprises in Australia's extensive rangelands for greenhouse gas and environment outcomes: a pastoral company perspective

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bentley ◽  
R. S. Hegarty ◽  
A. R. Alford
Keyword(s):  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Growth Efficiency ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The North ◽  
Environmental Objectives ◽  
Output System ◽  
Emissions Intensity ◽  
Current Emission

Extensive grazing of beef cattle is the principal use of the northern Australia land area. While north Australian beef production has traditionally utilised a low-input, low-output system of land management, recent innovations have increased the efficiency with which beef is produced. Investment to raise efficiency of cattle production by improving herd genetics, property infrastructure, the seasonal feed-base and its utilisation, as well as promoting feedlot finishing can all be expected to reduce the number of unproductive animals and reduce age-at-slaughter. Consequently, these innovations can all be expected to contribute to a reduction in the emissions intensity of greenhouse gases (GHG; t GHG/t liveweight gain). The North Australian Pastoral Company (NAPCO) has adopted these technologies to enhance reproductive and growth efficiency of the herd and has coupled them with changes in other aspects of property operation, such as use of solar energy systems, establishment of introduced perennial pastures and minimum tillage, to achieve production and operational gains, which also reduce the emissions intensity of their pastoral properties. Investments to improve production efficiency have been consistent with both financial and, in principle, environmental objectives of NAPCO. While NAPCO supports the development and implementation of new mitigation strategies, the company requires greater knowledge on pastoral emission levels and clarity on the future position of agriculture in a carbon economy. This information would enable confirmation of current emission levels, modelling of mitigation options and evaluation of the efficacy of potential on-farm carbon sinks. This paper presents NAPCO’s perspective on GHG emissions in the context of its pastoral enterprise, including current and future research and mitigation objectives.

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