Livestock Help The Climate

Livestock vital in fight against climate change
22 September 2009

A LEADING scientist has issued a robust rebuttal to those who claim livestock are the biggest contributors to climate change.

Dr David Garwes, an independent livestock scientist, said grassland farmers made a considerable contribution to food security while continuing to reduce their environmental impact.

His report, released by the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE), added livestock farmers made an important contribution in the fight against climate change.

In his report, Reducing Emissions from Livestock, Dr Garwes also urged consumers not to abandon meat eating.

Dr Garwes said: “More than 60 per cent of British agricultural land is grassland and much of it, particularly the hills and uplands, is unsuitable for other crops.

“Semi-permanent rough grazing and improved grasslands play a vital role in locking up carbon dioxide and regulating the flow of rain into water courses. Read More

Livestock production does more to benefit the world than it ever will to harm it. With a vast majority of the land mass on this planet unsuitable for crop production, we need livestock to be able to harvest the grasses that grow in those areas. There is also no doubt that agriculture is much more efficient and producing less emissions than in the past, a trend that is continuing. The calls to end animal agriculture in the name of the environment are short sighted to say the least.