Livestock emissions and systems in developing countries

ILRI. 2009. Livestock emissions and systems in developing countries. Video. Nairobi: ILRI

According to Carlos Seré, Director General of ILRI, the livelihoods of a billion people, particularly in Africa and Asia, are attached to livestock - and consequently to their greenhouse has emissions. If livestock are removed, many of these people have few other livelihood opportunities.

He argues: "improving feeding is one of the key interventions to improve the efficiency of livestock systems, i.e. to produce less methane per kilo of output" - which will relieve pressure on other natural resources like forests.

He cautions that aggregating livestock emissions globally misses the big differences between developed and developing countries. It is important to separate the two.

"To design policies you really need to clearly separate the problem." In developed countries, livestock production is mainly commercial and there are a number of policies and instruments that can be applied to reduce livestock emissions.

In poor countries as well, he states, livestock emissions can be reduced : "but we need to be aware of the stark trade off. We may end up with lots more poor people and hungry children."