The Impact of the Pork Industry on Climate Change: Introduction (part 1/4)

Introduction of the pork industry

This blog post explores the significant impact of the pork industry on climate change, providing insights into the sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the industry and highlighting strategies for mitigation. Readers will gain an understanding of the environmental challenges posed by pork production and actionable steps they can take with suppliers and internal teams to reduce these emissions.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding Emissions: The pork industry contributes substantially to global carbon emissions through feed production, manure management, and energy use.
• Regulatory & Commitment Pressures for transparent reduction: CSRD, SBTi & CSDDD increase pressure for corporates to collaborate and act.
• Industry Challenges: Intensive farming practices, while increasing productivity, lead to higher emissions. Major producers like China face significant environmental footprints from pork production.
• Sustainable Practices: Life cycle assessments (LCAs) and sustainable intensification practices are critical for quantifying and mitigating environmental impacts.
• Social Implications: The shift towards sustainability affects farmers, local businesses, and rural communities, necessitating a balance between environmental and economic goals.

Actions for Suppliers and Internal Teams

1. Innovation in Feed Production: Collaborate with suppliers transparently from a baseline Lifecycle Analysis of the feed to develop and use feed with a lower carbon footprint. Start with a shared investment in trials and be open about costs and shared mitigation of those costs.
2. Improved Manure Management: Implement advanced manure management techniques to reduce emissions.
3. Energy Efficiency: Adopt energy-efficient technologies and practices across the supply chain and in farm operations.
4. Sustainable Practices: Integrate sustainable farming practices and technologies to enhance productivity while minimising environmental impact.
5. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to international and domestic regulations to meet GHG reduction targets.
6. Stakeholder Engagement: Work with farmers, local businesses, and communities to support the transition to more sustainable pork production methods.

By focusing on these strategies, companies within the pork industry can play a crucial role in mitigating climate change and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Background

The pork industry is recognised as a significant contributor to global carbon emissions due to various activities such as feed production, manure management, and energy use. These activities collectively add to the industry’s carbon footprint, making it imperative to address these emissions to ensure environmental sustainability and compliance with regulatory demands. ‍

Over the past two decades, considerable research and efforts have been directed towards understanding and mitigating the environmental impacts of pig production systems. In Figure 1, a comprehensive overview of the primary sources of GHG emissions in pork production and to present detailed strategies and practical guidelines for reducing these emissions. 

Figure 1. Overview of life cycle system of the pork production chain.

The global pork industry faces substantial challenges as it seeks to mitigate its impact on climate change. Public concern and media scrutiny over the environmental footprint of food production are intensifying. Additionally, the industry is under increasing pressure to comply with domestic and international regulations aimed at reducing GHG emissions.

Key international bodies, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), alongside the European Union, have set ambitious climate targets for 2030, detailed in reports such as the “European Green Deal” and the “IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C.” From the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement, a growing number of countries have pledged to binding CO₂ reduction targets, with the ultimate aim of limiting global warming to below 1.5–2.0°C above preindustrial levels.

The transformation of agri-food systems is central to these climate action goals. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2019, the agri-food system was responsible for 31% (17 GtCO₂e) of global anthropogenic emissions, 53% of methane (CH₄), and 78% of nitrous oxide (N₂O). This is largely driven by a growing global population and increased consumption of animal-sourced foods, which continue to elevate the demand for meat and exert pressure on climate targets.

Specifically, pork production contributed approximately 747 Mt of GHG emissions in 2021, making it the second-largest contributor to global meat production emissions. The rise in demand for pork has led to the prevalence of intensive farming practices, which account for about 61% of global pork production due to their higher productivity and centralised management. However, this shift from traditional household farming to intensive production can lead to increased GHG emissions, despite improvements in yield and management efficiency. For example, China, the world’s largest pork producer, consumes 42% of the world’s pork, with around 75% of its pigs raised in intensive farms. Pork production, therefore, has a significant environmental footprint, contributing approximately 11% of the Chinese food footprint excluding feed emissions.

The ambition to achieve net-zero emissions has driven countries to commit to sustainable intensification practices. Numerous efforts have been made using life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the potential environmental benefits and impacts of mitigation measures applied across the pork production supply chain. These regulatory pressures coincide with natural changes affecting biophysical conditions, such as more frequent and severe weather events, which impact the stability and productivity of pig farming. The social implications are also significant, with these challenges directly affecting farmers, local businesses, and rural communities worldwide. As the pork industry adapts to these changes, it must balance environmental sustainability with economic viability to ensure a stable food supply and support for regional economies.

Importance

Focusing on the pig industry is crucial due to its significant contribution to GHG emissions. In Table 1, the pig industry accounts for 13.7% of total livestock GHG emissions, making it the third-largest contributor after cattle and chickens. 

Table 1. The GHG emission contributions from different types of livestock

Key sources of emissions within the pig industry include enteric fermentation, which contributes 33.2%, and manure management, which accounts for 28.5% of emissions (Table 2). Additionally, both direct and embedded on-farm energy use contribute 12% and 8.2% respectively. By addressing these major sources of emissions, targeted strategies can be implemented to reduce the overall environmental impact of the pig industry, making it an important focus for mitigating climate change.

Table 2. The GHG emission sources from the global pig industry

Addressing the emissions from pork production is crucial for mitigating climate change, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices, and meeting increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. A study conducted on pig production systems in the UK over an 18-year period highlighted substantial reductions in environmental impacts due to advancements in animal performance and feed composition. These improvements underscore the importance of continued innovation and implementation of best practices in reducing the carbon footprint of pork production.

Interested in engaging all teams, internally and externally, to collaborate and invest in one climate action plan in real time?

Unibloom empowers you to collaborate with data-driven and digital robust Lifecycle Analysis data to identify the most cost-efficient reduction of your agricultural emissions. Our predictive platform enables sustainability teams and operations to automatically calculate sustainability projects, forecast impact, optimise costs, resources, and trade-offs towards Science-Based Targets in minutes. We are experts in the food and consumer goods industry. Contact us to learn more at calendly.com/anna-sandgren.

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