Where the debate is stuck… Our grass-based systems are amongst the most efficient in the world. We are best placed to respond to global demand, and produce more food. Our grass-based systems are amongst the most efficient in the world. We are best placed to respond to global demand, and produce more food. ʼ ʻʻ ʼ Irish agriculture accounts for 1/3 of national emissions. We must radically reduce national emissions. Therefore: we must radically reduce agricultural emissions. Irish agriculture accounts for 1/3 of national emissions. We must radically reduce national emissions. Therefore: we must radically reduce agricultural emissions. ʼ ʻʻ ʼ Food Security Climate Change

Where the debate is stuck… Our grass-based systems are amongst the most efficient in the world. We are best placed to respond to global demand, and produce more food. Our grass-based systems are amongst the most efficient in the world. We are best placed to respond to global demand, and produce more food. ʼ ʻʻ ʼ Irish agriculture accounts for 1/3 of national emissions. We must radically reduce national emissions. Therefore: we must radically reduce agricultural emissions. Irish agriculture accounts for 1/3 of national emissions. We must radically reduce national emissions. Therefore: we must radically reduce agricultural emissions. ʼ ʻʻ ʼ Food Security Climate Change Sustainable Food Security …a new equation for carbon-efficient livestock farming…

GHG = A x f e Food = A x f p #hectares #cows #hectares #cows tonne / ha Litre milk / cow tonne / ha Litre milk / cow #hectares #cows #hectares #cows N 2 O / ha CH 4 / cow N 2 O / ha CH 4 / cow ↑ ↑ ↑?

GHG = A x f e Food = A x f p Reduce N 2 O / ha Reduce N 2 O / ha Reduce CH 4 / cow Reduce CH 4 / cow ↑ ↑ ↑? ↓ ↓

GHG = A x f e Food = A x f p ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓? ↑?

GHG = A x f e Food = A fpfp x Food

GHG = A x f e Food = A fpfp Food

GHG = Food x fefe fpfp

How much food do we need? 1. Milk: role in nutritional security

How much food do we need? 2. Mono-gastrics: efficient… Leip, A. et al., Evaluation of the livestock sector's contribution to the EU greenhouse gas emissions (GGELS) – final report. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, 323 pp. but competing for cereals…

Which food do we need? 3. Ruminants: … less efficient but… … can convert inedible protein…

GHG = Food x fefe fpfp 1. Which food, for whom, grown where? 2. What are the cost-effective technologies to reduce emissions? 3. How can we ensure that intensification is sustainable? Can we offset emissions through carbon sequestration? - δS c 4 4