Media Partnership - AgriTalks Ireland: The Brazilian experience in reducing the carbon footprint in livestock farming

Euractiv Partner Content

For food safety purposes and market demands for bioenergy production, it is paramount that the agricultural sector worldwide becomes more climate resilient. As temperatures rise, rainfall patterns change and pests and diseases mutate, food and farming systems face increasing threats.

This webinar focused on solutions to reduce the climate footprint of livestock raising – an issue of major concern to both Brazil and Ireland.

In Ireland, agriculture accounts for over 37% of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Recently, the Irish government set a ceiling for emissions in the sector, requiring a 25% reduction by 2030 compared to 2018 levels.

The Brazilian livestock sector has incorporated increasingly sustainable practices. In April 2021, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) created the ABC+ Plan for the adaptation of agriculture to low carbon emissions systems. The observed trend in the Brazilian beef industry is to marginally increase the herd while reducing the grazing areas. This is achieved by: i) increasing the productivity of existing pastures; ii) enhancing herd health and nutrition; iii) improving animal management; and iv) implementing technology- intensive and integrated systems.

Furthermore, the renowned Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) covered the Carbon Neutral Beef (CNB) brand and method of production, a seal which certifies beef produced using systems that neutralise methane gas emissions.

Rewatch this webinar to find out about challenges and best practices to reduce the environmental footprint of the livestock breeding with panellists from Brazil and Ireland. The event was an opportunity to open up a discussion forum between Brazilian and Irish stakeholders.

Organised by: ApexBrasil & the Embassy of Brazil in Dublin
Media Partner: EURACTIV