Organic farming methods help rebuild and replace carbon in the soil. (A study presented by Professor John Crawford at the recent Carbon Farming Conference held in New South Wales, Australia)
If all tillable land were turned into organic vegetable farmland, not only would people be fully fed, but up to 40% of all the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere could be absorbed. This is in addition to the elimination of over 50% of emissions caused by livestock raising. (Rodale Institute, 2008)
Land used for meat production could also be returned to its natural state, which in turn helps quickly absorb vast quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere. (Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency)
Changes in farming practices, such as greater efficiency in livestock farming methods and better manure management, are not sufficient to meet the UK’s 2030 goals for greenhouse-gas emissions. A reduction in meat and dairy production and consumption would more effectively mitigate global warming while improving public health and saving lives. (The Health Benefits of Tackling Climate Change.The Lancet, 2009)
Livestock emission reduction plans, such as providing different food sources for animals and using manure for fuel, have been found to reduce emissions only by a few percent and in fact could create more food quality and ethics problems. (a decade-long study by New Zealand’s AgResearch) Meat and dairy consumption must be reduced to significantly minimize livestock emissions. (UK Food Ethics Council Executive Director Tom MacMillan)
METHANE CAPTURE for energy an inadequate plan.
The proposal to capture methane from livestock manure in factory farms is wholly insufficient, because:
Most of the methane is from enteric fermentation - over three times the amount from manure.
The system is not often technically or cost- feasible.
Digester systems are implemented usually on farms that collect large amounts of liquid manure daily.
The many serious environmental problems caused by factory farms are still unaddressed, and more than negate any benefit from methane capture.
Global warming / Greenhouse gas emissions
Biodiversity loss
Excessive water, food, antibiotic and fossil fuel use
Stehfest, E., Bouwman, L., van Vuuren, D.P., den Elzen, M.G.J., Eickhout, B. and Kabat, P. (2009, February 4). Climate benefits of changing diet. PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/2009/Climate-benefits-of-changing-diet
FAQ: How do animal wastes create methane emissions? (2010, October 19). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://www.epa.gov/agstar/anaerobic/faq.html#q4
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