International climate agreements, like COP21, have initiated a new era for climate policies. The livestock sector has potential to contributing to mitigating climate impact. In the EU, the sector accounts for 40% of global agricultural emissions or 7% of total emissions, producing about 2,400 Mt of CO₂ equivalent annually, but also methane and NO2. Enteric emissions, emissions from manure and land use change (LUC) due to deforestation for feed production are among the principal contributors.

Thanks to significant efforts, the livestock sector in Europe is starting to contribute to mitigation of climate impacts (SDG 13). R&I, new technologies and relevant incentives to implementation of best practices may enable the livestock sector to come close to CO2 neutrality for monogastrics and to achieve a 40% reduction for ruminants. Ways to proceed include implementing mitigation options and enhancing carbon storage under grasslands soils.

Climate targets should be integrated into a holistic approach to avoid trade-offs and foster a sustainable use of resources, preservation of biodiversity and improvement of soil quality. Future solutions need to optimise multiple factors through a systems approach, which takes into account the interplay between the system components.

Programme

13:55 Welcome and introduction, by Jean-Louis Peyraud (ATF President) and Matthias Gauly (EAAP President)

SETTING THE SCENE

14:00 A European policy makers’ view: How do we estimate climate impacts from livestock and its potential for mitigation? How to compare with other sectors?, by Simon Kay, DG Clima

14:15 Can we achieve climate targets avoiding trade-offs with biodiversity?, by Sébastien Treyer, IDDRI

14:30 Discussion

IMPLEMENTATION OF CLIMATE MITIGATION OPTIONS

14:45 Farmers committed to achieving mitigation targets via the adoption of innovative best practices, by Josselin Andurand, Idele, coordinator of the EU-funded "Life Beef Carbon" project

15:00 Industry committed to achieving mitigation targets, by Charlotte Thy, Danish Crown

15:15 Options at system level: Innovative approaches in reducing the emissions intensity and increasing the quantity of carbon stored in soils. Expected mitigation potential. By Martin Scholten, Global Research Alliance

IMPROVEMENT OF EVALUATION METHODS

15:30 LEAP Partnership, building consensus on methodologies for the assessment of environmental performance of livestock supply chains, by Camillo de Camillis, LEAP-FAO

16:15 PANEL DISCUSSION

Moderated by Vivi Hunnicke Nielsen, Aarhus University, with:

• Simon Kay, DG Clima

• Josselin Andurand, Idele, coordinator of the EU-funded "Life Beef Carbon" project

• Jabier Ruiz Mirazo, WWF

• Sijne van der Beek, CRV

• Monika Zehetmeier, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture

17:15 Closing