Journal
NATURE FOOD
Volume 1, Issue 7, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PORTFOLIO
DOI: 10.1038/s43016-020-0113-y
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Funding
- Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Scheme [2012230]
- Livestock Environmental Assessment Performance (LEAP) Partnership [GCP/GLO/369/MUL]
- Livestock Information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch (AGAL) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- project 'Supporting the Implementation of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture Roadmap' - Federal Ministry of Agriculture (BMEL) of Germany [GCP/GLO/998/GER]
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Global livestock supply chains have significantly altered nitrogen (N) flows over past years, thereby threatening environmental and human health. Here, we provide a disaggregated assessment of the livestock sector's impacts on global N flows and emissions, including international trade. The results show that the sector currently emits 65 Tg N yr(-1), equivalent to one-third of current human-induced N emissions and sufficient to meet the planetary boundary for N. Of that amount, 66% is allocated to Asia and 68% is associated with feed production. Most emissions originate from locally produced animal-sourced food, although N emissions embedded in international trade are significant for some importing countries. Given the magnitude of its impacts and its central role in both domestic and international N challenges, the livestock sector urgently requires a global initiative to tackle N pollution while supporting food security. Livestock greenhouse gas emissions are key to the sustainability of food systems. A spatially explicit analysis of global livestock supply chains shows large variability of nitrogen use efficiency across species, systems, production intensities and the origin and management of animal feed.
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