2WPRE_02

Summary

Dr. Tomich, a researcher at Embrapa, discusses the Low Carbon Dairy Program in Brazil, focusing on sustainable dairy production. He outlines Embrapa's strategic initiatives since 2004 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in livestock, particularly methane from enteric fermentation. The talk covers the importance of public investment in research infrastructure, the creation of a biotechnology lab, and collaboration with the private sector. Tomich also presents data on Brazil's dairy productivity, its global ranking, and the challenges of increasing production efficiency while reducing carbon footprints. He emphasizes the need for technology transfer, proper animal management, and the use of mitigating additives to achieve sustainable dairy farming.

Takeaways

• 📈 The speaker emphasizes Embrapa's strategic focus on greenhouse gas emissions in livestock since 2004, starting with the AgroGas project and evolving to include partnerships with the dairy sector.
• 🔬 A key initiative has been the creation of a multi-user laboratory for biotechnology and sustainability in livestock, which is considered one of the world's reference laboratories for enteric methane research.
• 🌱 The speaker highlights the importance of public investment in research infrastructure, which has led to significant advancements in understanding and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
• 📊 Data shows that Brazil has the highest productivity index in the agricultural sector, indicating its potential for sustainable growth and food supply for the world.
• 🐄 Despite a reduction in the number of milked cows in Brazil over the past decade, productivity has increased by more than 30%, stabilizing milk production at around 35 million liters per year.
• 🌍 Brazil ranks among the top milk producers globally, with its production primarily for domestic consumption, highlighting the sector's importance to the national economy.
• 📉 The carbon footprint of milk in Brazil is relatively high compared to other major producers, suggesting a need for focused efforts on reducing emissions in the dairy sector.
• 🚀 The speaker discusses the 'Low Carbon Milk Program', which involves a partnership with companies to reduce the carbon footprint of milk production, focusing on the supply base of these companies.
• 🌿 The potential for carbon sequestration in dairy farming is mentioned, with a focus on improving the efficiency of production systems to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity.
• 🔍 The presentation concludes with a discussion on the need for further research, economic analysis, and widespread communication about the dairy sector's actions to address carbon emissions.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Tomich's research at Embrapa?

Tomich's research at Embrapa focuses on zootechnics, particularly on nutrition and the evaluation of feeds for ruminants, as well as the assessment of methane emissions and milk production.

What is the significance of the 'Programa de Leito Baixo Carbono' mentioned in the script?

The 'Programa de Leito Baixo Carbono' is significant as it represents a strategic initiative by Embrapa to reduce the carbon footprint in milk production, in partnership with various companies in the dairy sector.

How has Embrapa been addressing greenhouse gas emissions in livestock since 2004?

Since 2004, Embrapa has prioritized the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in livestock through projects like AgroGás and Redes Pec, which have created a foundation for personnel training and research in this area.

What is the role of the multi-user laboratory of biociências and sustainability in livestock located in Coronel Pacheco?

The multi-user laboratory in Coronel Pacheco serves as a reference laboratory for enteric methane research globally, providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment for conducting sophisticated research on animal nutrition and methane emissions.

What is the current status of Brazil's dairy industry in terms of global ranking and contribution to national food supply?

As of 2022, Brazil ranks among the top 10 milk producers globally, specifically in the fourth position, and its production is primarily for domestic consumption, contributing significantly to the national food supply.

What is the estimated contribution of the dairy sector to Brazil's total greenhouse gas emissions?

The dairy sector is estimated to contribute about 35% to Brazil's total greenhouse gas emissions, which is higher than the global average but essential for the country's food security.

How has the number of dairy cattle in Brazil changed in the past decade, and what is the impact on productivity?

There has been a reduction of approximately one-third in the number of dairy cattle in Brazil over the last 10 years, which has been accompanied by an increase in productivity, stabilizing the production at around 35 million liters per year.

What are the main strategies discussed in the script for reducing the carbon footprint of milk production?

The main strategies discussed include improving the efficiency of production systems, enhancing animal productivity, better management of enteric methane emissions, and the use of mitigating agents and certified environmentally friendly feed ingredients.

What is the significance of the 'inventário de ciclo de vida' mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to carbon emissions?

The 'inventário de ciclo de vida' is a life cycle inventory that serves as the basis for calculating emissions from the milk production system. It identifies and quantifies emission sources and associates them with emission values, allowing for the simulation and analysis of emission models.

How does the script suggest that the dairy sector can increase production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

The script suggests that the dairy sector can increase production while reducing emissions through intensification and sophistication of production systems, focusing on efficiency, and adopting technologies and practices that reduce the carbon footprint without compromising economic viability.