CHINA – dsm-firmenich has entered into a partnership with Tianlai Livestock Group to address carbon emissions in China’s beef cattle industry.
The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2025, to implement dsm-firmenich’s Sustell™ platform, a life cycle assessment tool aimed at measuring and reducing the environmental impact of animal protein production.
The agreement marks the establishment of China’s first dedicated data platform for promoting low-carbon beef farming.
Tianlai Livestock Group plans to utilize the Sustell™ platform to bridge existing gaps in the domestic beef industry, set new benchmarks, and encourage broader adoption of eco-friendly practices by enterprises and farmers.
Speaking about the collaboration, Zhang Sheng, Chairman of Tianlai Livestock Group, highlighted the company’s focus on quality and traceability throughout the beef value chain.
“This partnership aligns with China’s strategy for achieving carbon peak and neutrality goals. Leveraging dsm-firmenich’s expertise will help drive sustainable growth in the sector,” he stated.
Zane Zeng, B2F Director for Greater APAC at dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health, emphasized the significance of Tianlai’s commitment to sustainability and its established industry presence.
He expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to serve as a model for green transformation in the livestock sector.
Dr. Mongkol Kaewsutas, Director of Precision Services for Greater APAC at dsm-firmenich, described the collaboration as an innovative step toward advancing sustainable cattle farming practices in China.
The agreement comes as China continues to expand its beef production.
In 2023, the country produced 7.53 million metric tons of beef, representing 13% of global production.
Over the past decade, China’s beef output has grown steadily, up from 6.13 million tons in 2013.
China’s beef cattle population reached 84.5 million in 2022.
Additionally, in 2023, the country imported 2.74 million tons of beef.
However, total export revenue dropped to US$2.7 billion, an 8.6% decline compared to 2022, marking the lowest value since 2021.
Regional export data for 2024 shows that 33.3% of beef exports from Liaoning ports were destined for North Korea, while 32.7% of exports from Jilin ports went to Hong Kong.
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