FAO Report on Methane Emissions in Livestock and Rice Systems

September 28, 2023

A recent report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations highlights the significant impact of methane emissions from ruminant livestock and rice paddies on the environment. The report, titled “Methane emissions in livestock and rice systems: Sources, quantification, mitigation, and metrics,” emphasizes the need for effective strategies to manage these emissions and mitigate their effects on climate change.

The report, released on September 25, 2023, delves into the sources and sinks of methane gas, provides methodologies for measuring emissions, offers a diverse array of mitigation strategies, and explores metrics for evaluating both emissions and their mitigation.

Methane Emissions: A Growing Concern

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is responsible for about 32 percent of global anthropogenic methane emissions from microbial processes during the enteric fermentation of ruminant livestock and manure management systems. Additionally, rice paddies contribute another 8 percent to these emissions. Despite women’s equal cancer burdens, gender inequities in society exacerbate their challenges.

Understanding Methane’s Impact

Methane is a short-lived greenhouse gas with an atmospheric lifetime of approximately a decade, in contrast to carbon dioxide, which affects the climate for hundreds of years. However, methane is over 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Challenges in Measuring Methane Emissions

Accurately measuring methane emissions and inventories remains challenging. While sophisticated methods, including the use of drones and satellites, have been developed, their widespread application is hindered by cost, labor-intensiveness, and the difficulty of assessing grazing animals. Research validation of these methods lags behind their development.

Collaborative Effort and Global Conference

The report, compiled by a multidisciplinary team of 54 international scientists and experts from the Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance Partnership, was released during FAO’s inaugural ‘Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation’ held from September 25-27, 2023.

Methane Emissions and Climate Change

The report underscores the importance of reducing methane emissions, as they currently contribute approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius to global warming. Addressing methane emissions is a crucial pathway to achieving the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. Besides agrifood systems, other human activities, such as landfills, oil and gas systems, and coal mining, also generate methane emissions.

Mitigating Methane Emissions from Livestock

The study identifies four overarching strategies for mitigating methane emissions from livestock:

Animal Breeding and Management
Feed Management, Diet Formulation, and Precision Feeding
Forages
Rumen Manipulation

Focus on Feed Efficiency

The report highlights the role of improving feed efficiency, defined as the ratio of animal product to feed intake, in reducing methane emission intensity and enhancing animal productivity per unit of feed. Enhancing feed digestibility, altering microbial composition in the rumen, and selectively breeding animals with desirable traits can all contribute to improved feed efficiency. This improvement can lead to increased farm profitability, depending on the relative cost of feed and revenue from meat and milk production.

Regional Relevance

The report emphasizes the need for regional studies that quantify the effects of improved nutrition, health, reproduction, and genetics on animal production and methane emission intensity. Such studies are crucial for developing relevant and implementable mitigation strategies.

Challenges and Future Directions

The report acknowledges the scarcity of information required for calculating carbon footprints of interventions on a regional basis. Additionally, economically feasible methane mitigation solutions remain limited. Addressing these challenges is essential for advancing sustainable livestock practices and mitigating methane emissions effectively.

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