Advancing sustainable livestock transformation in China
Global experts recently convened in China for a week-long initiative aimed at tackling greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.
The international symposium on innovative technologies for sustainable livestock development and environmental assessment took place in Rong Chang, China on 24 April 2024. Hosted by the Chongqing Academy of Animal Science, this event was organized by the Institute of Feed Research of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IFR CAAS), the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and the FAO Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performances (LEAP) Partnership.
Background
In September 2023, the FAO LEAP Partnership unveiled a technical report titled "Methane emissions in livestock and rice systems: Sources, quantification, mitigation, and metrics" during the first ever Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation. This comprehensive report not only outlined current methodologies for assessing methane emissions but also delved into groundbreaking mitigation strategies across various ruminant systems globally.
The report's acclaim among FAO LEAP partners sparked widespread interest, leading to collaborative efforts for dissemination and technical cooperation across East and Central Asia, and Latin America.
Following a co-publishing agreement with FAO, the Institute of Feed Research of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences embarked on translating the FAO LEAP report into Chinese, further amplifying its reach and impact.
Highlights of the symposium
The symposium brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including experts from FAO and representatives of Brazil, China, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States of America. Serving as a hub for the exchange of cutting-edge research and partnerships, the event marked also the official launch of the translation of the FAO report on methane emissions, a pivotal step towards wider accessibility and utilization of valuable insights within the Chinese context.
About the report
The FAO report "Methane emissions in livestock and rice systems: Sources, quantification, mitigation, and metrics”, released in September 2023, not only delineates methodologies like the Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM) but also underscores innovative mitigation approaches across diverse livestock systems worldwide. The subsequent translation of this report underscores the global relevance and applicability of its findings in driving sustainable agricultural practices.
A week of initiatives in China
Throughout the week-long program, a series of targeted events unfolded across various Chinese cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Dali, ranging from technical seminars to specialized trainings. These initiatives underscored the FAO LEAP Partnership and its partners' unwavering commitment to addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable livestock transformation. Through collaborative efforts, the FAO LEAP Partnership aims to catalyze progress towards mitigating methane emissions and advancing global food sustainability objectives.