Integrating Animal Husbandry With Crops and Trees
Per capita intake of animal protein is expected to increase globally through 2050, and the rate of increase will be more in developing or emerging economies than in developed countries. Global meat consumption between 1980 and 2050 is projected to increase from 133 million to 452 million tons, and 8...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00113/full |
| _version_ | 1818488467643957248 |
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| author | Rattan Lal |
| author_facet | Rattan Lal |
| author_sort | Rattan Lal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Per capita intake of animal protein is expected to increase globally through 2050, and the rate of increase will be more in developing or emerging economies than in developed countries. Global meat consumption between 1980 and 2050 is projected to increase from 133 million to 452 million tons, and 86% (279 million tons) of the increase will occur in developing countries. Animal-based agricultural systems occupy 45% of the global land area and contribute a large proportion of agricultural emissions. In addition to being a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), livestock also use 8% of the global water withdrawal. The animal sector is dominated by resource-poor and small landholders of developing countries. Adverse effects of livestock on the environment are caused by the way animal husbandry is practiced, in no small part because animals are not integrated with other agricultural and forestry-based practices. Thus, improving and sustaining the livestock sector is critical to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, especially SDG #1 (No Poverty), SDG #2 (Zero Hunger), SDG #6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG #13 (Climate Action). Separating raising of livestock from cultivating seasonal crops and perennial trees has decoupled the biogeochemical/biogeophysical cycling of carbon (C), water (H2O), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S). This decoupling is a causative factor of the increase in emissions of N2O and CH4, eutrophication and contamination of water resources, degradation of rangelands, and decline in its biodiversity. Therefore, identifying and adopting systems that integrate livestock with crops and trees are critical for reducing the environmental footprint of animal-based dietary products. Incorporating pastures/forages in the rotation cycle along with controlled grazing, called ley farming, and agroforestry, such as alley cropping, are examples of integrated farming systems. Other strategies of reducing the environmental footprint comprise the following: reducing enteric fermentation by precision feeding and matching dietary protein to animal need, processing CH4 and N2O emissions for other uses, and managing manure and other animal waste prudently. Other important considerations are adopting multiple GHG perspectives and minimizing gas swapping, reducing wastage of animal products, decreasing the use of antibiotics, and restoring rangeland for sequestration of atmospheric CO2 as soil organic matter. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:51:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74f4bdc6049e41729abc2b7410b4aa5c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:51:23Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-74f4bdc6049e41729abc2b7410b4aa5c2022-12-22T01:40:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2020-07-01410.3389/fsufs.2020.00113543605Integrating Animal Husbandry With Crops and TreesRattan LalPer capita intake of animal protein is expected to increase globally through 2050, and the rate of increase will be more in developing or emerging economies than in developed countries. Global meat consumption between 1980 and 2050 is projected to increase from 133 million to 452 million tons, and 86% (279 million tons) of the increase will occur in developing countries. Animal-based agricultural systems occupy 45% of the global land area and contribute a large proportion of agricultural emissions. In addition to being a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and other greenhouse gases (GHGs), livestock also use 8% of the global water withdrawal. The animal sector is dominated by resource-poor and small landholders of developing countries. Adverse effects of livestock on the environment are caused by the way animal husbandry is practiced, in no small part because animals are not integrated with other agricultural and forestry-based practices. Thus, improving and sustaining the livestock sector is critical to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, especially SDG #1 (No Poverty), SDG #2 (Zero Hunger), SDG #6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG #13 (Climate Action). Separating raising of livestock from cultivating seasonal crops and perennial trees has decoupled the biogeochemical/biogeophysical cycling of carbon (C), water (H2O), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S). This decoupling is a causative factor of the increase in emissions of N2O and CH4, eutrophication and contamination of water resources, degradation of rangelands, and decline in its biodiversity. Therefore, identifying and adopting systems that integrate livestock with crops and trees are critical for reducing the environmental footprint of animal-based dietary products. Incorporating pastures/forages in the rotation cycle along with controlled grazing, called ley farming, and agroforestry, such as alley cropping, are examples of integrated farming systems. Other strategies of reducing the environmental footprint comprise the following: reducing enteric fermentation by precision feeding and matching dietary protein to animal need, processing CH4 and N2O emissions for other uses, and managing manure and other animal waste prudently. Other important considerations are adopting multiple GHG perspectives and minimizing gas swapping, reducing wastage of animal products, decreasing the use of antibiotics, and restoring rangeland for sequestration of atmospheric CO2 as soil organic matter.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00113/fullgaseous emissionsfood securityecological footprintsustainable development goalswaste managementfarming systems |
| spellingShingle | Rattan Lal Integrating Animal Husbandry With Crops and Trees Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems gaseous emissions food security ecological footprint sustainable development goals waste management farming systems |
| title | Integrating Animal Husbandry With Crops and Trees |
| title_full | Integrating Animal Husbandry With Crops and Trees |
| title_fullStr | Integrating Animal Husbandry With Crops and Trees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating Animal Husbandry With Crops and Trees |
| title_short | Integrating Animal Husbandry With Crops and Trees |
| title_sort | integrating animal husbandry with crops and trees |
| topic | gaseous emissions food security ecological footprint sustainable development goals waste management farming systems |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00113/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rattanlal integratinganimalhusbandrywithcropsandtrees |