The manager of sustainable development with Manitoba Pork says the global livestock sector has made significant strides in reducing its contribution to global warming.
The Paris based International Meat Secretariat, which represents the global meat and livestock sector is made up of over 100 livestock producer associations, national and regional meat associations, meat exporter associations, meat processing companies and government.
Earlier this month the secretariat reaffirmed its commitment to tackling climate change focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Mike Teillet, the Manager of Sustainable Development Manitoba Pork, says a number of countries have undertaken a range of activities over the last 10 to 15 years or more to reduce livestock’s contribution to pollution and greenhouse gas production.
We believe the livestock sector has gone to significant lengths to reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants. I think the livestock sector generally has become much more environmentally friendly over the last few years. I’ll give you examples, some numbers that the American National Pork Board has come out with.
They estimate that that pig farmers in the U.S. use 78 percent less land, 41 percent less water and release 35 percent less greenhouse gases per pound of pig produced today, as compared to 50 years ago. We don’t have specific numbers on that in Canada but we think our numbers would be very similar to that so we think we’ve come a long way on this and it’s not like we’ve stopped. We’re continuing to improve all the time.
Teillet notes, while pork production only contributes about 1.3 percent of world wide greenhouse gas emissions, the industry appreciates it is part of the problem and wants to be part of the solution and is doing what it can to reduce its footprint.
