Presentation by Tara Garnett for ILRI Annual Program Meeting, Addis Ababa, 15 April 2010

1. Livestock in the developed world: Good? Bad? Or a mixed bag? Tara Garnett Food Climate Research Network - University of Surrey ILRI APM - 15 April 2010

6. Livestock: looking into the mixed bag ruminants Benefits Disbenefits Comment Nutrition Excellent for protein, calcium, iron, vit B12 Excessive fat; protein can be more than needed Animal foods not essential; plants can substitute Non food benefits Leather, wool, manure, rendered products Manure can be a pollutant Quantities needed? Substitution cost Eating will always have an impact Generally plant foods have lower GHG profile But replacement foods will reduce the GHG savings from dietary shift Carbon storage Pasture land stores carbon Excessive grazing & land use change releases carbon Land use change from pasture to crops will generate CO 2 Resource efficiency Livestock can consume grass & byproducts – ‘something from nothing’ Supplemented with grains & cereals in intensive systems Byproducts can be used directly as energy source in AD systems; better to reduce waste Geography Some land not suitable for cropping Arable land used for livestock too Intensive systems are arable hungry; land could be used for biomass

8. Thank you Tara Garnett [email_address] www.fcrn.org.uk Food Climate Research Network