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Review: More effective linkages between science and policy are needed to minimize the negative environmental impacts of livestock production

Gill, M.; Garnsworthy, P.C.; Wilkinson, J. M.

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Authors

M. Gill

P.C. Garnsworthy

J. M. Wilkinson



Abstract

Animals form an integral part of our planetary ecosystem but balance is critical to effective ecosystem functioning as demand for livestock products has increased, greater numbers of domesticated livestock have created an imbalance and hence had a negative impact on a number of ecosystem services which means that life as we know it will become unsustainable. Policies and technology advances have helped to manage the impact but more needs to be done. The aim of this paper is to highlight ways in which better knowledge of animal science, and other disciplines, can both harness technology and inform policy to work towards a sustainable balance between livestock and the environment. Effective policies require simple, quantifiable indicators against which to set targets and monitor progress. Indicators are clear for water pollution, but more complex for biodiversity. Hence, more progress has been made with the former. It is not yet possible to measure the impacts of changes in livestock management on greenhouse gas emissions per se at a farm level and progress has been slower, although new technologies are emerging. With respect to land use, the simple indicator of area has been used, but total area is oversimplistic. Our analysis of land suitability and use highlights a relatively overlooked role of livestock in acting as a ‘buffer’ to use by-products and grains which do not meet the standards for processing by industry during years of inclement weather, which in the past has provided an ‘insurance policy’ for farmers. Since extreme weather events are increasing in frequency with climate change, this role for livestock may be more important in future. The conclusions of the review with respect to strengthening the links between research and policy are i) to encourage animal scientists to identify the relevant environmental indicators, work with the cutting edge experts developing technologies to measure these cost-effectively and across a range of relevant livestock systems and ii) to work with the feed industry to optimize diets not just in terms of least cost financially but also least ‘cost’ in terms of global carbon flux and engage in dialogue with the food industry and policy makers on regulations for grain quality.

Citation

Gill, M., Garnsworthy, P., & Wilkinson, J. M. (2021). Review: More effective linkages between science and policy are needed to minimize the negative environmental impacts of livestock production. Animal, 15(Supplement 1), Article 100291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2021.100291

Journal Article Type Review
Acceptance Date Jan 11, 2021
Online Publication Date Jul 8, 2021
Publication Date 2021-12
Deposit Date Mar 26, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Animal
Print ISSN 1751-7311
Electronic ISSN 1751-732X
Publisher Elsevier BV
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue Supplement 1
Article Number 100291
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2021.100291
Keywords Environment; Grain quality; Inter-disciplinarity; Policy; Productivity
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5417841
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731121001348
Additional Information This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Review: More effective linkages between science and policy are needed to minimize the negative environmental impacts of livestock production; Journal Title: Animal; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2021.100291; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Animal Consortium.

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