Australian red meat industry sees 78% reduction in emissions, report finds

AUSTRALIA – A recent report commissioned by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) reveals that the Australian red meat industry has achieved a remarkable 78% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions since 2005.

This substantial decrease is attributed to reduced rates of land clearing and increased forest regrowth, according to the findings released.

The report indicates that net greenhouse gas emissions from the red meat industry amounted to 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2021.

However, it also raises concerns about the reliability of the emissions data, as it is based on the Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which may be underreporting land clearing in Queensland.

The report indicates a cattle population of 23.3 million in 2021, although there are concerns about the accuracy of this data, as it is based on Australian Bureau of Statistics farm surveys, which may underestimate the actual number of cattle.

One significant factor contributing to the reduction in emissions is the high rainfall experienced in 2020-21, leading to extensive carbon sequestration through increased vegetation growth on land managed by the red meat sector.

This surge in carbon sequestration resulted in a notable 40% decrease in industry-wide emissions compared to the previous year.

Nevertheless, the report cautions that carbon sequestration estimates are associated with high levels of uncertainty.

In 2017, MLA announced an ambitious goal for the industry to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

However, climate and agricultural scientists have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of this target.

Julia Waite, the MLA’s carbon neutral 2030 project manager, acknowledges the challenges ahead, noting that lower rates of land clearing and increased forest regrowth have helped offset the sector’s direct emissions, primarily from methane released by cattle burps and manure.

Since 2017, MLA has invested $152 million in research and development, primarily focusing on emerging technologies such as methane-reducing feed additives.

Despite previous claims of investing over $180 million, MLA has revised the figure.

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