Livestock: On our plates or eating at our table? A new analysis of the feed/food debate
The new articles indicates a wider perspective of global livestock production and its contribution to improved food security. It notes the differing production systems and low resources and land impact of grass fed and extensive grazing regimes as practiced in many parts of Australia and New Zealand. "And while some of the global discussion on food security may address the question of the feed/food competition, it often fails to mention the diversity of animal diets around the world and the various levels of efficiency in production systems"
in 2006, FAO released a study called Livestock's Long Shadow. This release saw a stream of articles and studies portraying negative aspects of livestock production on the environment.
From 2009, research conducted at UC Davis countered the arguments and narrative of some of the earlier research and media reports. This useful presentation format published by Frank Mitloehner details the research. " it is simply not true that consuming less meat and dairy products will help stop climate change, says a University of California authority on farming and greenhouse gases."
The debate continued to rage and further articles in 2014, 2015 and 2016 pushed the notion of the negative of meat production systems and climate change.
In 2014 an article entitled "Livestock and global change: Emerging issues for sustainable food systems" noted some research has led to "inaccurate simplifications of the messages surrounding how to manage the livestock sector’s growth in the future." and "The benefits associated with livestock are societal, economic, and environmental. Livestock contribute 17% to the global food balance, in terms of calorific intake per person per day, and 33% of the protein in human diets"
An encouraging article appeared in 2015 noting that "Australia is ‘free to choose’ economic growth and falling environmental pressures" and "extensions of current policies that mobilize technology and incentivize reduced pressure account for the majority of differences in environmental performance." "results show that Australia can make great progress towards sustainable prosperity, if it chooses to do so." CSIRO also published this paper. "Australian National Outlook 2015 report"
FAO document Food Security and global efforts and publish updates and data. Recent website link notes: "There is more than enough food produced in the world to feed everyone, yet 815 million people go hungry."
In very brief summary, negative articles continue to be published and promoted by anti agriculture and protein groups. The basis of the research and quotes are selective and are largely erroneous and industry should be vigilant for further promotion of anti meat diets and seek to counter the myths espoused with sound research and factual information.
A range of Australian research:
Climate Clever Beef - climate clever beef B.NBP.0564_Final_Report January 2014
Measuring methane in the rumen under different production systems as a predictor of methane emissions B.CCH.6210
Development of gas selective membranes for intra-ruminal capsules - Department of Agriculture Ref No 01200 B.CCH.6220 August 2015
Enteric methane mitigation strategies through manipulation of feeding systems for ruminant production in southern Australia
Lead organisation: Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria
01200017-project-fact-sheet_southern-feeding-systems_b-cch-6460_final
