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Explore the environmental impacts of agriculture and food production, emphasizing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock and crops. Learn about sustainable solutions and the potential benefits of dietary changes. Join the World Preservation Foundation Event on November 3, 2010, in London, presented by Ester van der Voet from Leiden University. Discover how agriculture contributes to non-CO2 climate forcers and affects land and water use. Find out about options to reduce environmental impacts, such as lowering inputs, improving efficiency, and shifting towards plant-based diets.
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Environmental Impacts of Food and Agriculture World Preservation Foundation Event “Leaders Preserving our Future” 3 november 2010, London Ester van der Voet CML, Leiden University WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers
Contents • UNEP Resource Panel: “Assessing the Environmental impacts of Production and Consumption” (Hertwich et al., 2010) • Contribution of agriculture/food to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other impacts is significant • Options to reduce difficult to realise • Diet change is most effective, and with least side-effects WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions • Agriculture especially relevant for non-CO2 GHG emissions • CH4 (methane) from cattle and rice fields: 1 kg CH4 = 25 kg CO2-eq • N2O (laughing gas) from soils: 1 kg N2O = 298 kg CO2-eq • Associated with CO2 emissions as well: energy input in agricultural chain, esp. via fertiliser • Other environmental impacts, especially land and water use WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions Consumption categories (excluding LUC; source: UNEP, 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Contribution of agriculture to environmental impacts Materials (source: UNEP 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions Agricultural products (source: Ecoinvent, 2004) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions Agricultural products (FAO, 2005 and Ecoinvent, 2004) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Share of animal products Destination of produced cereals, world (FAO, 2005) crop-to-animal product ratio: 10 kg/kg WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Share of animal products Consumption of meat, world, 1961 – 2007 (source: FAO) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions • Agriculture large contributor to global environmental impacts … • … including, but not limited to, GHG emissions • Important and increasing share of animal products • To some extent, inevitable • We have to eat • Agriculture exceptional sector in many ways • Options: • Lower input • Increase efficiency • Change diet WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Options to change diets • Differences between regions (source: FAO, 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Could animal consumption be reduced? • Wide variety in meat consumption within regions (source: Odegard, from FAO, 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Conclusions • Agriculture / food significant contributor to environmental impacts • Animal products important share • Meat consumption increasing • Wide variety in meat consumption between and within regions • Substantial environmental benefits from diet changes WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Changing diets GHG emissions of meals (based on Ecoinvent, 2004) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
Agriculture exceptional sector GHG emissions vs expenditure (source: UNEP, 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010
