JRC: EU livestock emissions could drop by 19%

Emissions related to livestock production in Europe could be reduced by 15-19% in the short term compared with 2004 levels, according to an EU report published on Friday. This could be done through "technically achievable mitigation solutions".

The report, published by the EU's Joint Research Centre (JRC) on Friday, shows further reductions could be made in areas such as soil and enteric fermentation. But it could take several decades after 2020 to achieve this, warns the JRC.

Another main finding is that the livestock sector accounts for 9.1% of total EU emissions (2004 levels), or 12.8% if emissions from land use change are factored in. This is lower than the FAO's 18% figure http://www.endseurope.com/12741?referrer=bulletin&DCMP=EMC-ENDS-EUROPE-DAILY for global production, issued in 2006.

But report authors point out there is "considerable uncertainty" regarding the data, particularly land-use change. And the figure for total emissions is 21% lower than in national inventories submitted to the UNFCCC because the CAPRI model used in the report gives different results, they add.

The JRC report does not cover emissions from processing or packaging meat. It presents five policy scenarios and the reduction potential for each. Even under the baseline scenario, emissions would decline by 6.8% by 2020. This is mainly because beef meat production, the highest contributor, is declining.

It also presents six sample technological abatement measures and analyses their effects. Each option is a mixed bag, reducing some types of emissions but increasing others. For instance, eliminating grazing would reduce N2O from manure but increase methane emissions from animals eating indoors rather than outdoors.

Cattle are responsible for the majority of EU livestock emissions, with 29% from rearing beef and an extra 29% from milk production. Pork accounts for 25% of emissions, while poultry meat and eggs account for just 8% and 3% respectively. Pigs and chickens have a more efficient digestion process.

Denmark is by far the highest emitter, followed by Latvia. These countries import large amounts of feed. Italy and Greece have the lowest livestock emissions because they have high self-sufficiency in feed production. The report also gives emission figures for imports of New Zealand sheep and Brazilian beef and chicken.

Follow-up:

JRC executive summary http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/livestock-gas/exec_sum_en.pdf

and report http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/livestock-gas/full_text_en.pdf

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