August 9, 2023 | Earth.Org | Source
The Australian red meat industry, led by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 while doubling the value of Australian red meat sales within the same timeframe. Despite the ambitious nature of these twin goals, recent analysis by CSIRO indicates that the industry is already on the right path, with greenhouse gas emissions from the Australian red meat sector falling by 59% since 2005. This reduction has contributed to a drop in the sector's share of national emissions from 22% to 10.7% between 2005 and 2019.
The majority of emissions from the red meat sector come from cattle, primarily due to enteric methane emissions from their digestive processes. To tackle this challenge, the industry is implementing a range of strategies, including reducing land clearing, sequestering carbon through tree planting, improving soil management, optimizing herd management for efficiency, and enhancing feeding and grazing practices to reduce methane emissions.
To achieve carbon neutrality, MLA is collaborating with CSIRO to develop a digital assurance system that will provide producers with access to premium markets and prices based on their carbon-neutral credentials. This initiative aims to support the entire industry in adopting sustainable practices. Additionally, research is ongoing into feed supplements that can reduce methane emissions in feedlot herds, such as FutureFeed, which utilizes red algae to lower methane emissions by up to 80%.
The challenge of achieving carbon neutrality extends to grazing livestock, and research is being conducted into the emissions-reduction benefits of legume fodder crops and native shrubs. Genetics is also playing a role in breeding animals that produce less methane and grow more efficiently.
Moreover, MLA and CSIRO are working on establishing standards and verification mechanisms to ensure that carbon-neutral claims are trustworthy and verifiable, building consumer trust in environmentally sustainable meat production. Initiatives include the Environmental Credentials for grass-fed beef platform pilot, which aims to create an online tool for measuring and demonstrating environmentally sustainable production practices.
Through these efforts, the Australian red meat industry is striving to meet the growing demand for sustainable food while maintaining its competitiveness in the global market.