Highlights from the Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation

Margaret Jewell and Kari Moffat (Sustainability Steering Group) at FAO Headquarters

Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation in Rome

Representatives from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and CSIRO featured on an international panel held as part of the inaugural event organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Acting Deputy Secretary, Nicola Hinder, introduced the speakers from Australia, Africa, South America and Europe who put a spotlight on groundbreaking science in livestock methane mitigation and productivity gains.

“We are genuinely excited about the work that is happening in this space,” Ms Hinder told the audience.

“As one of the world’s largest livestock producers we have very strong sustainability interests in this area as well as strong commercial interests.

“There is no one size fits all approach to sustainability and that is why the Australian government is promoting common sense, outcomes-based principles that support environmental, economic and social outcomes, acknowledge the diversity of environmental, geographic and climatic circumstances between countries, identify policies and regulations that should be transparent, science- and risk-based and, importantly, avoid market-distorting policies and promote the role of the multi-lateral trading system including transparent, predictable, open, and fair markets.”

MLA Program Manager Environmental Sustainability, Margaret Jewell, gave an update on the Australian red meat industry’s ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2030 (CN30).

She said that since 2017, MLA has facilitated more than $140m in investment in pursuing CN30 across four investment streams: leadership building; integrated management systems; carbon storage; and emissions avoidance.

“What we’ve learned from investing significantly in this challenge for six years is that the most impactful investments that we can make are those that reduce or avoid methane emissions from livestock,” Ms Jewell said.

“Livestock are part of the solution - absolutely they are - particularly if we are able reduce the emissions that the industry produces.

“The good news is we have evidence from research and development that we can substantially reduce enteric methane emission which make up 80% of the emissions from livestock production in Australia and globally.”

Dr Jewell said the research is still in its infancy, with researchers only discovering the methane-inhibiting powers of the seaweed, red asparagopsis, about 15 years ago.

“There are still huge challenges to overcome before we have viable, scalable, adoptable solutions in place that reliably and consistently reduce methane from livestock production,” she said.

“There is no silver bullet. There will be a mosaic of technologies and solutions for enteric methane reduction. Feed additive technologies show tremendous promise with both asparagopsis and Bovaer® demonstrating up to a 90% reduction in enteric methane in feedlot trials.

“Genetic modification and gene editing technologies obviously have challenges. But what if we could increase the level of anti-methanogenic compounds in leaves of common pasture species so the livestock grazing them would consistently produce 20% less methane?

“It’s time to be smart and brave with what we know from science.

“Animal genetics is also hugely important. There is evidence that selecting for lower methane animals can result in permanent and cumulative methane reductions of about 1% per year. While this may not contribute in the short term to 2030 targets, when we look to 2050 these solutions may be the biggest contributors to emissions reduction from livestock.

“We must take risks and go faster and we can only really do this if we pool our resources and act together and that has been the general consensus from this conference.”

CSIRO research scientist Dr Stuart Denman stressed the importance of recognising the diversity of the world’s livestock systems and how it creates different challenges.

“The research and development in Australia is focussing on feed additives, legumes and forages and genetic solutions, all of which will be much easier to adopt into our dairy, feedlot and intensive grazing systems,” Dr Denman said.

“Yet, Australia has more than 50% of its herd in an extensive grazing system in northern Australia. For us to be a sustainable industry we will need to reduce enteric methane from these animals.

“Current technologies for at-market or near-to-market feed additives that reduce methane from livestock have shown to be effective in intensive systems. Moving to the grazing system where we need to rely on voluntary intake will prove challenging.

He said a key area of research is in extending the time in which the additives are effective in reducing methane.

“Current formulations have relatively limited rumen effectiveness times and they’re probably only in the order of several hours,” he said.

“Things like in-rumen bolus devices that payout continual amounts for at least six months are being developed and tested.

“An effectiveness time of up to around four months would allow for management strategies in which producers could supply a bolus in the wet season when animals typically do not access current supplement technologies.

“Challenges remain but they are being addressed and new technologies are constantly being assessed. Working in partnership with industry and government we will get to low emissions industry even for those livestock systems with a significant proportion of animals on extensive grazing rangelands.”