A group of Spanish scientists has just published the study ‘Evaluation of the environmental impact of beef production chains that integrate grazing and landless systems’ in the magazine ‘Animal’, in which they shed light on the environmental impact of the livestock. The livestock sector, like the rest of the industry, is accelerating its reconversion processes in order to reduce the environmental impact and water consumption, at a time of climate crisis with unprecedented water restrictions in autonomous communities such as Catalonia.
The research, led by a team of scientists from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, has highlighted the need to carry it out. “Until now, the true impact of beef farming in our country was not known,” highlights Fernando Estellés, one of its authors, who highlights that the results underline the essential role of Spanish beef in environmental sustainability: “Not all meats are the same, and the figures show that beef in Spain is the same. Polytechnic University of Valencia.” According to Raisa Tinitana, another of the scientists who participated in the research, the results “make it possible to lay the foundations for evaluating whether livestock farmers in Spain are making progress towards the climate neutrality goal proposed by the European Commission for 2050.”
One of the most notable findings of the report reveals that the carbon footprint of beef cattle in Spain per kilo of meat produced is 66% lower than the global average. Manuel Laínez, also a researcher, emphasizes that this is due to the efficiency of the production system used in beef cattle farming in Spain.
It is also important to highlight that the water footprint of beef cattle is one third compared to the world average. Furthermore, 92% of cows’ diet does not compete with food intended for people. The remaining 8% is made up mainly of cereals such as corn, which overall does not influence the increase in food prices.
The methodology currently used to measure the carbon footprint does not take into account the carbon capture carried out by the pastures where the cows are. Thus, it is estimated that carbon sequestration can offset 60% of emissions from grazing animals. Nor is another positive aspect contemplated, such as the promotion of the biodiversity of beef cattle farming in its environmental impact.