Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and it affects everyone, from farmers to consumers.
One of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions is the livestock sector, which accounts for about 14.5% of global emissions.
But what if there was a way to reduce the environmental impact of animal production without sacrificing the quality and quantity of meat and dairy products?
That is the question that a team of researchers from Italy and the US tried to answer in a recent study published in Nature Food.
They found that by replacing some of the energy-intensive crops used as animal feed, such as corn and soybeans, with agricultural by-products, such as straw and bran, they could significantly reduce the consumption of natural resources, such as land and water, and lower the emissions of carbon dioxide and methane.
They estimated that by substituting 11-16% of the current animal feed with by-products, they could save up to 13% of cropland area, 9% of water use, and 6% of nitrogen use globally.
Moreover, they found that this substitution would also reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide by 7% and methane by 18%, which are the main greenhouse gases produced by the livestock sector
These reductions are equivalent to removing 515 million cars from the road or planting 13 billion trees.
The researchers also pointed out that using by-products as animal feed would not compromise the nutritional quality or safety of the meat and dairy products, as long as they are properly processed and supplemented with vitamins and minerals.
In fact, some by-products, such as wheat bran, have higher protein and fiber content than corn and soybeans, and can improve the health and productivity of the animals.
The study also has implications for consumers, who can benefit from lower prices and more choices of meat and dairy products.
By reducing the demand for energy-intensive crops, such as corn and soybeans, the substitution of by-products could lower the cost of animal feed and production, and thus the retail price of the final products.
Additionally, by diversifying the sources of animal feed, the substitution of by-products could increase the resilience and sustainability of the livestock sector, which is vulnerable to climate shocks, such as droughts and floods, that affect the availability and quality of crops.
This could ensure a more stable and secure supply of meat and dairy products for the consumers, especially in developing countries, where animal protein is essential for human health and development.
The study suggests that embracing circular perspectives in agriculture, where waste is minimized and resources are reused, can lead to significant benefits for the environment, the economy, and the society. By changing the way we feed our animals, we can save our planet and our wallet.
