Another Mad Hatter's Tea Party

AGRICULTURE: The Alleged Climate Costs of a Glass of Milk

While countries are looking for ways to produce more food and overcome the current food price crisis, experts from LEARN (Livestock Emission Abatement Research Network) are studying ways to reduce emissions without undercutting productivity.

That was the focus of discussion amongst officials and researchers gathered in Uruguay Jul. 21-24 for the international workshop on agricultural emissions of greenhouse gases, organised by LEARN. Tierramérica was the only media outlet present for the technical segment of the meeting.
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Because it involves a sector that is very important to countries like Uruguay, the reduction of emissions must ensure that pasture-raised livestock continue to eat a natural, chemical-free diet, Luis Santos, coordinator of Uruguay’s Climate Change Unit, told Tierramérica. One option is to modify the diet of the animals, using varieties of forage that are less rich in methane, he said.

Pastureland accounts for 26 to 40 percent of the world’s productive lands. And cattle emit 37 percent of the methane and 65 percent of the nitrous oxide generated by human-led activities. The vast majority of these gases come from pastures in Latin America and Asia.