Farm Emissions: Kiwi lamb’s carbon footprint calculated
April 19th, 2010
New research has found a 100gm serving of NZ lamb consumed in Britain carries a carbon “cost” of 1.9kgs of carbon dioxide. The AgResearch study estimates 80% of the carbon is generated by farmers and their livestock on-farm. Just 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions come from processing, and 5% from transport, with the remaining 12% accounted for by retailers and consumers. The study is the first published carbon footprint to cover the entire life cycle from farm, through to cooking and eating the meat, and the disposal of waste and sewage.
Meat Industry Association chairman Bill Falconer says it will be hard to assess how carbon emissions for NZ lamb compare with overseas products, until there is a globally-agreed methodology for footprinting. “We’re not aware of overseas studies with a comparable scope or level of detail in the methodology.” However he says the industry is confident low-input and efficient farming, in a temperate climate and using a high proportion of renewable energy means NZ lamb compares favourably in its emissions performance on-farm.
Falconer notes in comparison with pre-Kyoto Protocol farming, the sheep industry is already producing more meat from less pasture, with lower emissions. Though NZ farms produced slightly more lamb than in 2003, the national sheep flock was 43% smaller, and this has reduced the carbon footprint of lamb by more than 20%.
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