SPECIAL STORY 46 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2023 “Today, the flurry of corporate goals and global pledges depict the urgency to reduce GHG emissions in line with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. Methane reduction is a useful target in that ambition because while it is a short-lived greenhouse gas, methane is potent when it’s in the atmosphere. Because of this, there is an opportunity for faster climate impact if we can reduce methane emissions.” In the face of a growing global population and the challenges posed by climate change, ensuring sustainable food production is a pressing concern. Farmers are evaluating sustainable agricultural practices that can both support the long-term viability of their business and drive lasting change for the future of animal agriculture. When it comes to methane reduction, one of the most widely discussed sustainability issues in animal agriculture, Cargill’s Animal Nutrition & Health enterprise encourages taking a holistic approach to uncover the potential of farmers and nutrition to do more with less, ensuring food security while protecting the planet. METHANE: AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TARGET IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE The scientific community is working diligently to study methane emissions across the beef and dairy lifecycle. Those in animal agriculture are presented with both a responsibility and an opportunity, as livestock represent 15% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.i Data show that both the dairy and beef industries have made significant strides in production efficiency. Take the U.S. dairy industry for example, where a gallon of milk in 2017 had a 19% smaller carbon footprint than it did in 2007.ii This progress is commendable but, interestingly, those previous efforts were not focused on methane – but instead methane mitigation was a byproduct of increasing production efficiency. Today, the flurry of corporate goals and global pledges depict the urgency to reduce GHG emissions in line with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. Methane reduction is a useful target in that ambition because while it is a short-lived greenhouse gas, methane is potent when it’s in the atmosphere. Because of this, there is an opportunity for faster climate impact if we can reduce methane emissions. While methane emissions from the enteric fermentation of cattle are a normal TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS IN AGRICULTURE Joanne Sharpe Global Category Lead - Sustainability in Ruminants Cargill Animal Nutrition
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==