Reducing Methane Emissions from Livestock in Brazil

Summary

This presentation highlights Brazil's efforts in reducing methane emissions from livestock through sustainable practices and technology. Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and supported by science-based solutions, Brazil’s ABC Plan has successfully expanded sustainable practices in agriculture over the past 14 years, resulting in reduced emissions, enhanced productivity, and better land management. The country aims to mitigate 1.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030, focusing on practices like pasture recovery, integrated crop-livestock systems, and innovative animal breeding. The plan also emphasizes the adoption of feed additives and improved manure treatment to further address methane emissions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Brazilian government implemented a sectorial plan 14 years ago to fight climate change in agriculture and livestock production.
• 😀 The ABC Plan (Low Carbon Agriculture Plan) focuses on adopting sustainable practices that are both environmentally friendly and profitable for farmers.
• 😀 Government incentives like low-interest loans (instead of subsidies) are used to support the adoption of sustainable practices by producers.
• 😀 The first phase of the ABC plan led to the adoption of sustainable practices across 54 million hectares and mitigated around 200 million tons of CO2 equivalent.
• 😀 Sustainable practices in Brazil target not only CO2 but also CH4 (methane) and nitrous oxide emissions.
• 😀 The plan emphasizes science-based solutions, technical assistance, and robust monitoring systems to support farmers in implementing best practices.
• 😀 Over the past decade, Brazil has made significant progress in recovering degraded pastures, increasing well-managed pastures from 25% to over 35%.
• 😀 Integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems have grown significantly, from 3 million hectares in 2005 to nearly 17 million hectares by 2020.
• 😀 The adoption of sustainable practices has reduced methane emissions per animal by about 10% from the 1990s to 2016, with further updates planned.
• 😀 The second phase of the ABC Plan (2021–2030) targets the mitigation of 1.1 gigatons of CO2 equivalent, with additional focus on manure treatment, intensive fattening, and innovation in animal breeding and feed additives.

Q & A

What is the main objective of Brazil's sectorial plan for livestock emissions?

The main objective is to reduce methane emissions from livestock production through the adoption of sustainable practices that are both environmentally friendly and profitable for producers.

What role does the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) play in this initiative?

Embrapa, where the speaker is a researcher, plays a key role in providing science-based solutions, sustainable practices, and technologies to help farmers adopt more environmentally friendly and economically viable practices.

How does Brazil's low carbon agriculture plan (ABC plan) support producers?

The ABC plan supports producers by offering financial incentives such as low-interest loans (not subsidies), promoting the adoption of sustainable practices, and providing technical assistance and robust monitoring systems.

What are some of the main achievements of Brazil's sustainable agriculture plan so far?

Key achievements include the recovery of degraded pastures, increasing the proportion of well-managed pastures from 25% to over 35%, and reducing severely degraded pastures from 34% to almost 22%. Additionally, integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems have expanded significantly.

How has Brazil reduced methane emissions in livestock production?

Brazil has reduced methane emissions by improving pasture management, promoting integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems, and implementing technologies such as manure treatment, intensive fattening, and animal breeding innovation.

What is the target for emissions reduction in the second phase of the ABC plan (2021-2030)?

The target for the second phase of the ABC plan is to mitigate 1.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent through the adoption of sustainable practices and technologies.

How have integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems helped mitigate emissions?

These systems help mitigate emissions by reducing land use and improving soil and water conservation, while also enabling the integration of crop, livestock, and forestry production to increase overall sustainability.

What new strategies are being explored to reduce methane emissions from livestock?

New strategies include investing in animal breeding for better performance, developing feed additives to reduce methane production, and improving forage quality to minimize emissions from enteric fermentation.

Why is manure treatment and intensive fattening important for methane reduction?

Manure treatment reduces methane emissions from animal waste, while intensive fattening systems can optimize feed and production practices, thus lowering emissions per unit of product.

What are the challenges in implementing these sustainable practices in Brazil?

Challenges include ensuring that practices are locally adapted, providing ongoing technical assistance to farmers, and maintaining the financial competitiveness of these sustainable practices in the market.