Environmental Impacts of Food and Agriculture

1. Environmental Impacts of Food and Agriculture World Preservation Foundation Event “Leaders Preserving our Future” 3 november 2010, London Ester van der Voet CML, Leiden University WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers

2. Contents • UNEP Resource Panel: “Assessing the Environmental impacts of Production and Consumption” (Hertwich et al., 2010) • Contribution of agriculture/food to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other impacts is significant • Options to reduce difficult to realise • Diet change is most effective, and with least side-effects WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

3. Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions • Agriculture especially relevant for non-CO2 GHG emissions • CH4 (methane) from cattle and rice fields: 1 kg CH4 = 25 kg CO2-eq • N2O (laughing gas) from soils: 1 kg N2O = 298 kg CO2-eq • Associated with CO2 emissions as well: energy input in agricultural chain, esp. via fertiliser • Other environmental impacts, especially land and water use WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

4. Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions Consumption categories (excluding LUC; source: UNEP, 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

5. Contribution of agriculture to environmental impacts Materials (source: UNEP 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

6. Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions Agricultural products (source: Ecoinvent, 2004) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

7. Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions Agricultural products (FAO, 2005 and Ecoinvent, 2004) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

8. Share of animal products Destination of produced cereals, world (FAO, 2005) crop-to-animal product ratio: 10 kg/kg WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

9. Share of animal products Consumption of meat, world, 1961 – 2007 (source: FAO) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

10. Contribution of agriculture to GHG-emissions • Agriculture large contributor to global environmental impacts … • … including, but not limited to, GHG emissions • Important and increasing share of animal products • To some extent, inevitable • We have to eat • Agriculture exceptional sector in many ways • Options: • Lower input • Increase efficiency • Change diet WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

11. Options to change diets • Differences between regions (source: FAO, 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

12. Could animal consumption be reduced? • Wide variety in meat consumption within regions (source: Odegard, from FAO, 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

13. Conclusions • Agriculture / food significant contributor to environmental impacts • Animal products important share • Meat consumption increasing • Wide variety in meat consumption between and within regions • Substantial environmental benefits from diet changes WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

14. Changing diets GHG emissions of meals (based on Ecoinvent, 2004) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010

15. Agriculture exceptional sector GHG emissions vs expenditure (source: UNEP, 2010) WPF short-lived non-CO2 climate forcers 3 november 2010