Africa’s livestock producers are bucking a trend, by proving resilient to climate change and generating huge economic benefits for their nations and regions, say researchers in a book published today by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and SOS Sahel. It shows how pastoralism is a major economic player and contributor to many … Continue reading
Accusations that “less meat means less heat”, inferring that cutting back on livestock production is a panacea for global warming, are wide off the mark according to the Australian Farm Institute (AFI). The Institute’s executive director, Mick Keogh, points to some flaws in the way livestock emissions are accounted for in several life-cycle analyses (LCAs) … Continue reading
A group called The Africa Group whose spokes person is Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi has made a demand for USD 30 billion to be granted African countries to tackle environmental damages caused by climate change. According to the plan, the start up funding will span three years from 2010 to 2012 with yearly release of … Continue reading
The 14th Summit of the African Union (AU) heads of state and government here has unanimously nominated Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to again represent Africa in international fora in future global climate conferences. The AU Summit, which ended here Tuesday, commended the same leading role played by Meles on behalf of the continent at … Continue reading
Grass feeding produces more greenhouse gases than feedlot beef because of increased fermentation in the gut, research concludes. Red meat has a bad reputation among the green-minded for its emissions of heat-trapping gases that exacerbate climate change. Fertilizer derived from fossil fuels is required for growing grain to feed cattle, and cows’ digestion produces large … Continue reading
On 28 January, the first map of a rumen methanogen DNA sequence was published in the journal PLoS One, giving scientists worldwide a major new opportunity to identify methods for cutting methane emissions from cows. Read more … (Scoop News) Continue reading
The needs of the poor are greater than the money available to help them, but that’s not enough to discourage Bill Gates in his work as co-chair of the world’s largest charitable foundation. In his second annual letter, issued Monday, Gates says investment in science and technology can leverage those dollars and make more of … Continue reading
Livestock farmers in North Eastern Kenya will be compensated against loss of their animals from drought following the launch of an insurance product targeting the sector. The compensation will ensure that pastoralists do not suffer losses when their livestock die from drought, disease or flooding. Read more … (Kenya Broadcasting Corporation) Continue reading
Delegates arriving at the gates of the climate conference in Copenhagen last month were met by women in furry animal suits holding placards showing pictures of lambs, cows and pigs and warning, “Don’t Eat Me.” But the virtues of vegetarianism as part of the battle to curb climate change are far from being an issue … Continue reading
At first glance, the Riswick farm is just another modern agricultural facility: in the middle of broad cultivated fields stand recently built barns, similar to so many other farms across Europe. But Riswick is a model experimental farm in the small town of Kleve, located 460 kilometres southwest of Berlin and a few kilometres from … Continue reading
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