ENVIRONMENTAL MEAT PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY

1
ENVIRONMENTAL MEAT PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY

• International Meat Secretariat
• Chicago, May 2009
• Richard Lowe
• Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

2
The Challenge of Climate Change

• In the next few years were all going to have to
  get used to the fact that eating a steak is as
  socially unacceptable as smoking

3
The Challenge of Climate Change

• In the next few years were all going to have to
  get used to the fact that eating a steak is as
  socially unacceptable as smoking
  ex-British Agriculture Minister. March
  2009

4
What I want to do this morning

• Not a scientific talk
• Necessarily a UK perspective but on a global
  issue which challenges us all
• Most of you will be up to speed already
• Frame our discussion
• How can we work together?

5
The basic scientific challenge (Livestocks Long
Shadow)

• Key greenhouse gases (GHG) from agriculture
• N20 (Nitrous Oxide) Fertiliser
• CH4 (Methane) Manure, Ruminant emissions
• 14 of global GHG from agriculture
• Mainly from energy used to grow animal feeds and
  methane
• In UK, livestock account for 7 of GHG

6
(No Transcript)
7
(No Transcript)
8
The policy reaction

• International collaboration e.g. Kyoto, IPCC
• Copenhagen December 2009
• National strategies to address the
  problem Mitigation Adaptation

9
UK Government reaction

• Climate Change Bill became law. Nov 08
• Legally binding targets to 2050
• 80 cut in all GHG emissions by 2050
• carbon budgets for each 5 year period with
  annual reports on progress
• 3 ways of reducing livestock GHG (UKCCC)
• New technologies
• Change farming practices
• Change consumer lifestyles

10
Livestock Farming in the firing line
11
Livestock Farming in the firing line
12
Is this an argument we can win?
13
Beware the gatekeepers caterers, retailers

• Consumers may reject policy intervention,
  government advice/info
• But caterers and retailers will be asked to edit
  choice take meat off the menu!

14
(No Transcript)
15
Lobby groups will attack the gatekeepers

• The buyer is the point of leverage, not the
  consumer World Wildlife Fund Policy Officer

16
Caterers will exploit corporate PR

• Bon Appetit which generated 80m meals a year
  said it exceeded its carbon footprint goals for
  the year by reducing beef purchases by 25 per
  cent . and have launched an online food
  calculator (Apr 09)

17
(No Transcript)
18
Personal summary thoughts

• Its an international challenge
• Its going to intensify
• Not an event like WCRF Report
• What can we do together?
• Consistent communication
• Share successes/learnings
• Avoid point-scoring (is this possible?)