Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Cowgate: Animal Agriculture Not a Major Contributor to Global Warming. Any Comments?

From the Washington Post.

 

Forget all that indecorous talk of animal flatulence, cow burps, vegetarianism and global warming. Welcome to Cowgate.

Lower consumption of meat and dairy products will not have a major impact in combating global warming — despite persistent claims that link such diets to more greenhouse gases. So says a report presented Monday before the American Chemical Society.

It is the bovine version of Climategate, complete with faulty science and noisy activists with big agendas.

Cows and pigs have gotten a "bum rap," said Frank Mitloehner, an air quality expert at the University of California at Davis who authored the report. He is plenty critical of scientists and vegetarian activists such as Paul McCartney who insist that livestock account for about a fifth of all greenhouse-gas emissions.

He also is critical of highly-publicized campaigns that call for "meatless Mondays" or push the motto "Less Meat = Less Heat," a European campaign launched in December during the Copenhagen climate summit. Talk of pricey air pollution permits of a "cow tax" for already cash-strapped farmers has surfaced in the U.S. and abroad.

 

Click here to read the whole story on the Washington Post website...

Views: 293

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

It just proves once again, that the populace are being herded like a school of fish with an aquarium mind-set.

The UN clearly is focused on shifting the global wealth and has patently found the argument of "climate change" as an easily accepted vehicle that most people can readily buy into. The global warming debate lends a level of empowerment to the average citizen. We are now demanding lifestyle changes without the benefit of global "truths" such as "Producing less meat and milk will only mean more hunger in poor countries." .

How can government turn down demands from their majority of citizens?

Another good article can be found at (24 March 2010)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8583308.stm
"Dr Mitloehner contends that in developed societies such as the US - where transport emissions account for about 26% of the national total, compared with 3% for pig- and cattle-rearing - meat is the wrong target in efforts to reduce carbon emissions."
From London's Science Museum:
" The scientific community has, with some exceptions, concluded that climate change is real, largely driven by humans and requires a response," said the museum's director Professor Chris Rapley. "Our objective is to minimise the shrill tone and emotion that bedevils discussion of this subject."

with that being said... Let's get on with life and enjoy the upcoming BBQ season.
Just a note that emissions from animal agriculture are not just about bodily emissions from the animals themselves, more important is the energy and water expended in growing and transporting grain for those animals. So while the criticism of the UN in report is sound, it is not at all the point of that report. The point of the report still stands, in that reducing the consumption of grain-fed meat overall leads to significantly lower emmissions. Carbon is actually sequestered in grass-fed methods so it is the grain that matters.

It's also important to note that you can just focus on any one sector, like transportation or agriculture, as we have consider the environment in all major aspects of our lives in order to do what it takes to reduce the serious impact of climate change. Finally, to take the UN's mistake and speculate about what either global food policy or individual choices should be as Mr. Mitloehner does in the longer versio of the article, is not his role and is beyond his expertise and his work, as various commentors have stated since this 'sensational' story broke.

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

AAFC cutting 665 positions

The cuts are part of the prime minister’s promise to reduce the public service

Canada And Ontario Investing $20 Million To Protect Local Farmers And Agribusinesses

The governments of Canada and Ontario announced they are investing up to $20 million through the new Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative to help farmers, food processors and agribusinesses sell more Ontario grown products around the world. Officials say the Initiative will fund a variety of projects to increase competitiveness for farmers and agribusinesses and support their expansion into new and international markets as part of the provincial government’s plan to protect Ontario’s agribusiness sector. As part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, this investment supports the province’s Grow Ontario Strategy to give farmers and businesses the tools they need to build long-term resiliency, create good-paying jobs and stay competitive in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty. “Expanding markets for Ontario food products ensures farmers and food processors have more reliable export opportunities,” said the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister

Northern BC canola farmers remain cautious as Chinese tariffs set to ease

Canola farmers and business leaders in northeast B.C. are welcoming the expected relief from easing Chinese tariffs, but say the industry still faces uncertainty going into this year’s growing season. “A deal doesn’t mean a sale,” said Les Willms, who grows between 1,300 and 1,500 acres of canola each year at his family farm in Rose Prairie, north of Fort St. John, B.C. Like many farmers in the Peace region, Willms is watching closely to see whether a new deal announced last week between Canada and China leads to renewed demand and a rally in prices in the coming weeks. Under the deal, China is expected to lower tariffs on some Canadian canola products by March 1. In exchange, Canada will allow up to 49,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles in the country at reduced tariffs. It follows months of uncertainty after China imposed retaliatory tariffs last year in response to Canada’s decision to slap 100 per cent duties on Chinese EVs. “Hopefully we'll get some cargos going into Asia,” W

Carney's Canada-China deals are the product of months of diplomatic hustle

The agreements Prime Minister Mark Carney brokered over the two days of his Beijing visit are the result of months of diplomatic work and cultural knowledge, international relations experts say. Carleton University international affairs professor Fen Osler Hampson said Carney "would have not gotten on the plane" without knowing first he had "something big, some big bacon to bring back home." "The team supporting the ambassador would have definitely been working overtime on this one." On Friday, Carney announced China had agreed to lower agricultural tariffs in exchange for some access for Chinese electric vehicles to the Canadian market, and that Beijing had agreed to eventually loosen its visa requirements for Canadian visitors. A day prior, he oversaw the signing of agreements touching on finance, pet food, lumber, oil and green technology. Asia Pacific Foundation vice-president Vina Nadjibulla said the agreements are the product of "an iterative process" of discussions between

Province celebrates evolution of agriculture at 49th annual Ag Days

The Manitoba government is welcoming thousands of producers, manufacturers, processors and retailers from across Canada, the United States and internationally to celebrate the evolution of agriculture at the 49th Annual Manitoba Ag Days, taking place this week at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. “Manitoba farmers and agri-businesses are innovators who continue to adapt to challenges such as climate variability and market fluctuations,” said Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn. “Ag Days provides an important platform to share knowledge, showcase cutting-edge technologies and strengthen Manitoba’s position as a leader in agricultural excellence. Our government is committed to supporting this vital sector through strategic investments in research, innovation and sustainable practices.” The three-day event will showcase the latest in agricultural technology, equipment and research, with speakers from across the world presenting throughout the exposition. A new vendor’s market will highligh

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service