Environmental issues in the dairy industry: farm level assessment

Dr. Asaah NdambiInternational Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi - Kenya

ESADA Conference25th September 2015

"Climate change is the most severe problem that we are facing today, more serious even than the

threat of terrorism."

-- David King

The Foreign Secretary's Special Representative for Climate Change, UK

Outline

1. Climate change effects on the environment

2. Dairy production vs climate change

3. How to produce milk while caring for the environment

Climate change is real – Africa is most affected

Temperatures: By 2050, average temperatures in Africa are predicted to increase by 1.5 to 3°C, and will continue further upwards beyond this time. Drier subtropical regions will warm more than the moister tropics.

Ecosystems: It is estimated that, by the 2080s, the proportion of arid and semi-arid lands in Africa is likely to increase by 5-8%. Between 25 and 40% of mammal species in national parks in sub-Saharan Africa will become endangered.

Rainfall: There will be major changes in rainfall in annual and seasonal trends, and extreme events of flood and drought. 32% of global water is used for feed production

What happens if we keep doing as we have been doing?

The length of growing season: a key threat

Source: IFPRI 2014

Agriculture: Crop yields from rain-fed agriculture would be reduced and crop net revenues could fall by as much as 90% by 2100, with small-scale farmers being the most affected. 33% of agricultural land is used for feed production

Sea-level rise: Towards the end of the 21st century, projected sea level rise will affect low-lying coastal areas in Africa with large populations.The projection that sea-level rise could increase flooding, particularly on the coasts of Eastern Africa, will have implications for health.

Energy: Only 8% of rural populations in Africa have access to electricity. 80% of the overall African population relies primarily on biomass to meet its energy requirements in sub-Saharan Africa.This gives more pressure on forests and increases environmental issues

Climate change is real

Proof of global warming

Outline

1. Climate change effects on the environment

2. Dairy production vs climate change

3. How to produce milk while caring for the environment

The big question

Is it climate change that affects dairy production or its dairy production that affects climate change?

How dairy production affects the environment

-Feed production, processing and transportation, deforestation, etc.

-Overgrazing-Enteric emissions-Manure (emissions, water pollution, odors)

Source: Chatham House based on FAO (2013)

Source: GLEAM

Global estimate of emissions by species

86%

Emission sources for dairy cattle

How climate change affects dairy production

How does climate change affect dairy production- Shortening of growing seasons less feed- Water scarcity and droughts less feed- Floods and crop spoilage- High temperatures, heat stress

Two facts we must live with

1. Population growth: Africa has the highest population growth rates in the world and this will continue throughout the century

We need to produce more milk, but must be sustainable

2. Consumption growth Total consumption of meat and dairy products will increase in Africa due to increasing population and growing consumption per capita

Outline

1. Recent environmental trends

2. Dairy production vs climate change

3. How to produce enough milk while caring for the environment

Adaptation

Mitigation

“Mazingira” state of the art environmental research center at ILRI

Accurate greenhouse gas emissions

Socio-economic impacts

Monitoring land degradation, soil fertility, hydrology

Experimental programs: feed, forage vs environment

Capacity building, mentoring, advise to governments

Adaptation approaches for dairy systems

Adaptation approaches include:

1. Increasing system resilience Enhancing production systems to face climate change (eg. water capturing, herd management, sequential cropping, genetic improvement, manure management, etc.)

2. Diversification Expanding the activities on the farm, exploring other possibilities outside the farm (eco-tourism, mixed farming, feed production, biogas production)

3. Risk management Taking measures beforehand to reduce risk (eg. insurance, weather forecasts, expansion of farmland, preservation feed, etc.)

Mitigation approaches

Enteric Fermentation Increase production efficiency Decrease the number of animals Improve nutrition Effects of local by-product supplementation on cost of

milk production and GHG emissions

Alqaisi et al 2014

More local feed

Lower costs

Lower emissions

emissions

Soil

Cycle principle

AnimalsExcretions

Nutrien

ts &

Organic

matt

er

Animal

Feed

Nutrients

Crops

Manure

outputs

inputs

inputs

Increase efficiency

reduces emissions

reduces need inputs

Manure management

TreatmentCollection Storage Application

Solid manure

Liquid manure

Deep litter

Composting

BiogasHeap

Pit

Silo

Spread-ing

Spot application

Injection

Integrated manure management

Dehydration

Manure is like money

Accumulated it’s a problemWell spread it’s a blessing

You need itto keep the system going!

Don’t waste it!

Thank you! Asante!

Photo: Oxfarm international