FAO report «livestock in the balance»

Transcription

1 The Partnership on Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance () Mr Alexander Döring, Chairman, IFIF Technical Committee Sun City April 2013 FAO report «livestock in the balance» The livestock sector contributes to food security and poverty reduction The livestock sector must improve its environmental performance The livestock sector can play a key role in mitigating climate change through adoption of improved technologies Feed conversion efficiency and feed quality is a key tool to reduce GHG emissions The pressure is growing 1

2 Challenge for the feed industry Meet the global growing demand for livestock products with limited availability of resources and with the need to reduce pressure on the environment. but we have also strengths! Animal products provide key nutritional benefits. Compound feed delivers resource efficiency. Adding value to co-products from food/biofuels industries through feed reduces competition for resources and improves synergies within the food chain. Chain approach is required to harmonize footprinting methodologies Harmonization: a success factor for environmental footprinting Environmental footprinting is complex. Results are highly correlated to assumptions and methodology used. Example 1 kg of Dutch milk (average) according to the Water Footprint Network : 544 L of water (477L of green water, 42 L blue water, 25L grey water) Alternative study focussing on consumptive freshwater (De Boer et al., 2012) : 66 L of blue water per kg of FPCM (assumption: irrigated grass and maize) Need for global harmonization! 2

3 Harmonization: a success factor for environmental footprinting Globally harmonized methodological framework is necessary to ensure credibility and consistency. Common methodology is a pre-competitive issue and is part of consumers expectations Internationally agreed and scientifically sound methodology is the first step to initiate mitigation options. A multi-stakeholder approach is essential brings together governments, the livestock industry, non-governmental and civil society organizations, leading researchers and inter-governmental organizations The FAO, as secretariat and host, will ensure that the project follows sciencebased and internationally recognized approaches Why did the feed industry join? Feed is an important component to improve the sustainability of livestock products The feed industry is committed to that objective Concerted actions from all the partners of the feed and food chain are however imperative to be successful. 3

4 Feed industry in Under the umbrella of IFIF a feed consortium gathering 7 feed associations and 7 feed companies is directly involved in New participants may join in the course of the project 7 associations AFIA AIC BEMEFA DAKOFO FEFAC NEVEDI SNIA 7 companies AGRIFIRM DE HEUS DENKAVIT FOR FARMERS NUTRECO CARGILL VAN DRIE GROUP will build on existing initiatives Global Research Alliance EU Food Sustainable Consumption and Production Round Table Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Sustainability consortium SAI platform Global Agenda of Action UNEP - Sustainable production and consumption in the agrifood sector UNEP/SETAC International Life Cycle Initiative Common Carbon Footprint Approach for Dairy: The IDF guide to standard lifecycle assessment methodology for the dairy sector Carbon Footprinting of Animal Nutrition, Agri-BALYSE, Animal Change Sustainability consortium Context: and other initiatives Generate data and analyses Develop methods IDF guidebook Academia, projects FAO LCA Glob. Res. All. Consolidate and prepare guidelines Share and catalyze SAI platform Sustainability Cons. LCA initiative Glob. Res. All. EU RT SCP Sust. Beef Private sector Research Government Inclusive 4

5 Context: and other initiatives All sust. criteria Glob ag. Action SAI platform UNEP agrifood LCA initiative Sustainability Cons. All envt. criteria Sust. Beef EU RT SCP GHG emissions FAO LCA Glob. Res. All. Single livestock commodity All livestock commodities All ag. commodities All commodities and other initiatives is build on other initiatives. is more specific and is the only initiative that is adressing livestock in a comprehensive manner and through a multi-stakeholder approach. will focus on climate change but consider also additional environmental impact categories. Work plan Common Principles and Elements Small Ruminants (Goats and Sheep) Technical Advisory Group Animal Feeds Technical Large Ruminants (Beef +) Technical Biodiversity Water Case Studies, Testing and Review Data and Methodology Improvement Feed Database and Platform Completed Project Plan and Communication Strategy Development of Feed Database & Communication Platform Poultry Technical Swine Technical Feed Database and Platform Live Trial Nutrient use Efficiency GHG + Additional Environmental Impact Guidance Communication of Guidelines Evaluation and Next Steps 5

6 : expected outcomes Sector specific guidelines for LCA of GHG emissions. Global feed GHG database for major feed crops. Guidelines for the measure of the wider environmental performance of livestock. Communication strategy Organizational structure of Challenges for The guidelines developed should not be too complex in order to be widely and easily applicable but they also should be detailed enough to enable differentiation based on nutritional performances and raw material sourcing. 6

7 Lessons from previous experiences Non-specific standards or guidelines are too general too enable consistency. Interpretation of these general guidelines is useful Balance between consensus and technical ambition is challenging. However, the lowest common denominator may not be a sufficient target. Budget and funding opportunities Mix of direct financial and in-kind funding Budget: 1.3 million USD is interested in organizations who want to support the work of the Partnership. Financial donors will be recognized as financial supporter of the Partnership. Thank you for your attention