• Livestock production contributes around 12 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in this planet.
• Today, the sector produces around six Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide.
Image: HANDOUT
The livestock sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and several players have been working around the clock to ensure that as the sector thrives, its negative impact on the environment is reduced.
We spoke to Food and Agriculture Organization Director Animal Production and Health Division Thanawat Tiensin.
Excerpts from the interview:
Is FAO concerned about the contribution of livestock to greenhouse gas emissions?
As you know, livestock production is a source of animal proteins that, in turn, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and have an environmental impact. Livestock production can also have an impact on deforestation because in some countries that have heavy production in the livestock sector, there is high contamination of nitrogen in the soil and water. That is why livestock and the environment are connected. As FAO, we are concerned about these issues.
Last year, we discussed sustainable livestock transformation. How are we going to produce livestock with less impact?
We know that by 2050, the demand for animal protein will in-crease by 20 per cent, especially in Africa, where in some countries the demand can increase to 100 per cent. We know that if we want to produce more or increase productivity, we have to be concerned about the impact on the environment that can come from the livestock sector.
As FAO, we have just launched a new report on pathways towards lower livestock emissions. We explain to all the members and also livestock producers and stakeholders how to produce with less impact or the interventions or measures we have to put in place in livestock production that will help reduce emissions from livestock sectors to zero. But we need to take action today, and the actions need to come from members, producers and the private sector.
If we put in our efforts, we can reduce the impact that we will have to ensure that livestock will be the solution for healthy people and a healthy planet.
How much does livestock sector contribute in terms of greenhouse gas emissions?
Livestock production contributes around 12 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in this planet. Today, the sector produces around six Gigatonnes of carbon dioxide.
We are expecting that by 2050, the carbon dioxide will increase from six Gigatonnes to nine Gigatonnes if we do nothing. We have to reduce the emissions down to 1.5 Gigatonnes even down to zero but measures and actions have to start today if we want to see the net zero by 2050.
We are expecting that in the next 10 years, new innovation and technologies will help us to reduce the emissions from livestock sectors. We can do more by 2030 and 2040 and that is why FAO last year organised a conference on sustainable livestock transformation.
We would like to echo the message to the public, policy makers, producers, farmers and private sector that we need to work hand in hand to make sure that we can reduce the impact from livestock sectors, to make sure that we can improve better production, better nutrition of our people, better environment and better lives for all.
Have emissions from the sector been given attention just like other sectors?
The sector contributes 12 per cent and that is why we need to look at the solutions on how we are going to reduce. We have the solutions but we need to bring these solutions into actions. The actions have to be taken by all the governments, producers and private sectors for better results to be seen.
Other sectors also contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions but for livestock sector and agri food systems, we need to move forward because we cannot stop producing. We need to feed eight billion people today and 10 billion by 2050 and that is why we are working under pressure because agri food system needs to meet the demand and feed people. We at the same time need to bring solutions and innovations to reduce the impact.
Is there a collective action plan to reduce the emissions globally?
Last year as FAO, we organised the global conference on sustainable livestock transformation. We now have at FAO the sustainable livestock transformation framework where we are going to work with countries.
In July this year, we will have the subcommittee on livestock and we will discuss the global plan of action for sustainable livestock transformation. We will discuss on how we are going to reduce the emissions and the impacts and produce better with less impacts.
At FAO, we will continue with our eff orts and we are expecting by this year and next year the regional forum on sustainable livestock forum and one health for agri food system is moved faster in the region because we need to take action locally to create the impact at the global level and we need to continue working together.
What are some of the solutions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock?
When we talk about pathway towards lower livestock emissions, at FAO, we already demonstrate what kind of interventions that the countries and the also the livestock farmers can implement at the local level.
For example, if you change the way you feed your animals, you will reduce the methane, you will reduce the emissions. When you improve animal health and also prevent diseases, you will increase the productivity. When animals have good health, the emission is also reduced.
We have a lot of intervention and mitigation that we can implement at the country level. We, however, need to ensure that our policy makers, farmers, private sectors are willing to put their efforts to implement all the action today. We are expecting to improve the productivity in the next five to 10 years and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Are you concerned about the misuse of antibiotics and what are the impacts?
As you know, we use different chemicals, pesticides and insecticides to control pests and diseases. One of the key issues is about the use of antibiotics or antimicrobials. FAO is supporting the members on how to use antibiotics prudently. We are working with members to have national strategies to antimicrobial resistance and talk to our producers.