11 Aug 2023
Carbon and emissions for livestock producers: Where to start?
Estimating emissions and developing plans for carbon management and emissions reduction is relevant for all farm businesses.
In recent years, animal agriculture has come under increasing scrutiny for its contribution to global warming.
Social licence for agriculture continues to change, politically and commercially. Food companies are driving a transition towards ‘carbon neutral’ meat products to anticipate future consumer preferences and potential changes in government reporting and trading partner requirements.
However, knowing your emissions can help future-proof your livestock business.
All livestock producers have an opportunity to set a goal for their business, calculate emissions and make simple changes to reduce those emissions and manage carbon, which will likely lead to productivity gains and long-term profitability.
This article explains why you should estimate your on-farm emissions, and provides some tools to get you started.
Note that other options such as going ‘carbon neutral’ or participating in carbon markets are not always relevant and practical for farm businesses and have risks as well as benefits involved, so it is important to do your research and make sure it is in line with your farm business plan.
Article written by RMCG Principal Donna Lucas and RMCG Consultant Naomi Palombi.
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