The Australian red meat industry has more than halved net GHG emissions since 2005

The Industry’s efforts to reduce net emissions are making a substantial contribution to Australia’s international commitments on climate change with farmers – like Stuart Austin and Trisha Crowley – continuing to lead the world in environmentally sustainable red meat production.

"We are massively climate positive."

How is emissions reduction possible?

Emission reductions are possible thanks to innovative technologies and practices, such as improved genetics, new types of livestock feeds and grazing management practices that reduce the amount of methane produced per animal.

The other part of the puzzle is being able to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using vegetation and store carbon in Australia’s vast grazing lands. Other initiatives include using dung beetles to recycle nutrients from livestock dung (or manure) to improve vegetation growth and help accelerate carbon storage in the soil.

What’s the industry doing to reduce GHG emissions?

Australian farmers and others in the red meat industry strive to address emissions and become a global leader in sustainable food production. The initiatives include:

• Improvements in feeding practices (better pastures, new types of food, more grains)
• Improved ways of handling manure
• Improved genetics and animal management
• Storing carbon in the land
• Using high quality feed to improve productivity and reduce emissions.

Exciting progress has been made to date. As well as net GHG emissions falling by 70.2% between 2005 and 2023, improvements are continuing to be made across our farms, feedlots and processers.

Did you know?

• In 2022-23, the major sources of national emissions (excl Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)) were stationary energy (47.9%), transport (18.3%), and agriculture (15.6%). Enteric methane, largely from sheep, dairy and beef cattle, contributes around 71% of agriculture’s footprint. If the red meat industry was its own category, in 2022-23, the industry contributed approximately 10% of national greenhouse gas emissions (incl LULUCF)*.
• In Australian feedlot research trials, Asparagopsis taxiformis (red seaweed) and Bovaer®10 have reduced methane between 15 - 90% when fed daily to cattle. Research is underway to understand their potential for grazing cattle.

* Data analysed from the National Inventory Report 2023, Volume 1 (dcceew.gov.au) and 2023 Greenhouse gas emissions footprint of red meat (mla.com.au)