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Project title

GHGBovine

Primary Funding Agency

DAFM

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Teagasc

Lead Applicant

n/a

Project Abstract

The global agricultural sector is faced with the challenge of producing safe, nutritious food to support growing populations in an economically viable manner while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact of agricultural production systems. Dairy and beef food products have historically been acknowledged as an excellent source of nutrition, providing proteins, minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids to consumers, which are regarded as important for a balanced diet. Ruminant production systems however have been identified as a notable source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the main driver of accelerated global warming and climate change. Ireland has earned a reputation as a trusted supplier of high quality food with its beef and dairy products previously reported in a European Commission JRC report as being among the most environmentally sustainable in Europe. The regularly referenced JRC report was published in 2010 and is based on data from early 2000, making it out of date. Furthermore consumers are increasingly questioning the sustainability credentials of the food they consume. The focus of GHGBovine therefore is to (1) determine the current total GHG emissions and GHG intensity (i.e. per unit product) of a range of beef and dairy production systems operated within Ireland (2) determine the temporal change in GHG intensity from said production systems (3) host workshops with European and International collaborators to ensure a harmonised dairy life cycle assessments methodology is deployed across life cycle assessment (LCA) models (4) conduct LCA of nationally representative beef and dairy production systems operating in European countries and dominants international exporting countries using the FAO's Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM). This project will provide the current emission efficiency of Irish beef and dairy systems, how they have progressed by implementing recommended management practices, and how they preform relative to European and key international counterparts.

Grant Approved

�249,777.50

Research Hub

n/a

Research Theme

Ireland's Future Climate, its Impacts, and Adaptation Options

Start Date

01/01/2023

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/12/2024