Facts about meat and climate change

The three most important greenhouse gases emitted in the pork value chain are nitrous oxide, CO2 and methane, in that order. Nitrous oxide is emitted primarily from the fields and from the storage of manure, while CO2 stems from the combustion of fossil fuels and methane from farm buildings and the storing of manure. At the slaughterhouses, key sources of greenhouse gases are energy, packaging material, cooling and transport.

Even though not all aspects of the impact of meat production and processing on the climate have been mapped with sufficient precision at present, the following facts can be highlighted:

• Since 1990, Danish farmers have reduced emissions of greenhouse gases by 23% when measured in terms of CO2 equivalents. The agricultural sector is responsible for 19% of total emissions of greenhouse gases in Denmark.

• The production of 1 kg of pork results in the emission of 3.6 kg of greenhouse gases when including feedstuffs production, farm buildings etc. Greenhouse gas emissions are generally lower for the production of 1 kg of vegetables in comparison with 1 kg of meat.

• Greenhouse gas emissions per kg of Danish pork were reduced by approx. 16% from 1995 to 2005.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the Danish pork value chain (which includes the production of feedstuffs and artificial fertilisers, farm operations, transport etc.) have been mapped as indicated below.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the Danish pork value chain can be characterised as follows:

• Emissions of greenhouse gases from the long-distance transport of meat are low compared with greenhouse gas emissions from farm buildings and feedstuffs production.

• Greenhouse gas emissions from slaughterhouses are low, despite the use of both electricity and heating, when compared with feedstuffs production.

• Most of the greenhouse gases stem from feedstuffs production, farm buildings and manure.

As more knowledge becomes available within this area, a full mapping of the Danish Crown Group’s impact on the climate will become possible. At the same time, this will make it easier for us to introduce improvements and specify targets.