Greener pastures and better breeds could reduce carbon ‘hoofprint’

Posted on 13 Sep 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

A new study by the International Livestock Research Institute finds reductions in greenhouse gases could be worth $1 billion dollars to poor livestock farmers if they could sell saved carbon on international markets Greenhouse gas emissions caused by livestock operations in tropical countries—a major contributor to climate change—could be cut significantly by changing diets and … Continue reading →

Africa / Agriculture / Cattle / Climate Change / Environment / Livestock

Adapting agriculture to climate change

Posted on 5 Aug 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

Adapting agriculture to climate change should have twin purposes: adapting to prevent further damage to the environment, and adapting to produce food despite the impact of climate change. The increasing intensity and frequency of storms, flooding and draught have great impact on agriculture and, therefore, on the food supply. The uncertainties associated with climate change … Continue reading →

Animal Production / Climate Change / Directorate / Food Security / ILRI

Should we eat less meat to increase food security?

Posted on 9 Jun 2010 by Peter Ballantyne (ILRI) • Leave a comment

The June 2010 issue of People and Science contains a ‘spat’ – a debate between Vicki Hird and John McDermott (of ILRI) on whether we should eat less meat to increase food security. Some flavour of the discussions: Hird: “Meat-hungry western consumers can still eat meat and dairy, but less of it and only from … Continue reading →

Africa / Livestock / Southern Africa

South African dairy goes green with manure power

Posted on 28 Apr 2010 by ILRI Communications • 2 Comments

Thandeka Mabuza’s small-scale dairy farm, on the banks of the Olifants River, gives off hardly any of the earthy smell you might expect from a thriving dairy operation. But the lack of manure odour is hardly the only benefit from the farm’s pioneering biogas dairy. By using vats to digest cow dung and then harvesting … Continue reading →

Animal Products / Climate Change

This Earth Day, go vegan

Posted on 26 Apr 2010 by Dorine Adhoch • Leave a comment

Celebrate Earth Day by admitting that meat-eating causes environmental destruction and changing your diet … Approximately 1 billion people will participate in Earth Day celebrations this month, and today alone countless people will plant trees, clean up rivers, pledge not to use plastic bags and decide to walk rather than drive. All of this helps, … Continue reading →

Animal Products / Climate Change

Carnivorous climate skeptics in the media

Posted on 26 Apr 2010 by Dorine Adhoch • Leave a comment

Earlier this month, the food news cycle took a spin for the better for carnivores concerned with the environmental impact of their diet. Fox News and the Washington Times offered the brightest rays of hope, introducing stories with the headlines “Eat Less Meat, Reduce Global Warming—Or Not” and “Meat, dairy diet not tied to global … Continue reading →

Australia / Climate Change / Livestock

Survey: cattle graziers’ climate change adaptability

Posted on 26 Apr 2010 by Dorine Adhoch • Leave a comment

“We will be asking how graziers in the Northern Territory and Queensland are currently coping with climate variability and their plans for the future,” said CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship researcher, Dr Nadine Marshall. “We aim to learn more about their circumstances, strengths and weaknesses and then observe how they deal with climate change impacts over … Continue reading →

Climate Change / Livestock

Rural ozone can be fed by feed (as in silage)

Posted on 25 Apr 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

The alcohol in silage can drive significant ozone formation, exceeding the contribution from tailpipe emissions. Livestock operations take a lot of flak for polluting. Manure lagoons not only irritate neighbors’ noses but also leak nitrogen — sometimes fostering dead zones up to 1,000 miles downstream. And ruminants can release copious amounts of methane, a greenhouse … Continue reading →

Animal Production / Climate Change

The myth of green beef

Posted on 25 Apr 2010 by ILRI Communications • Leave a comment

If I had to name one food that’s been in the hot seat over the past 30 years, it would be beef. Linked to cardiovascular disease and maligned for its industry’s dependence on federal corn subsidies, it now has a reputation as the Hummer of foods—an excessive contributor to environmental ills including climate change, nitrogen … Continue reading →

Animal Products / Climate Change / Livestock

5 things you need to know about grass-fed beef

Posted on 23 Apr 2010 by Dorine Adhoch • Leave a comment

The organic movement has taken the world by storm. But what’s truly healthy and what’s just hype? The manager of a grass-fed beef farm breaks it down. With skeptical, beef-centric films like Food, Inc. and Fast Food Nation encouraging the American consumer to question the source of their meat, how do you know what to … Continue reading →