Livestock production systems currently occupy around 28% of the land surface of the European Union (equivalent to 65% of the agricultural land). In conjunction with other human activities, livestock production systems affect water, air and soil quality, global climate and biodiversity, altering the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon. Here, we quantify the contribution of European livestock production to these major impacts. For each environmental effect, the contribution of livestock is expressed as shares of the emitted compounds and land used, as compared to the whole agricultural sector. The results show that the livestock sector contributes significantly to agricultural environmental impacts. This contribution is 78% for terrestrial biodiversity loss, 80% for soil acidification and air pollution (ammonia and nitrogen oxides emissions), 81% for global warming, and 73% for water pollution (both N and P). The agriculture sector itself is one of the major contributors to these environmental impacts, ranging between 12% for global warming and 59% for N water quality impact. Significant progress in mitigating these environmental impacts in Europe will only be possible through a combination of technological measures reducing livestock emissions, improved food choices and reduced food waste of European citizens.
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Ispra (VA), Italy;CNRS-UPMC, UMR 7619 Metis, BP 105, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France;CNRS-UPMC, UMR 7619 Metis, BP 105, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France;European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Ispra (VA), Italy;CNRS-UPMC, UMR 7619 Metis, BP 105, 4 Place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France;PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, PO Box 303, 3720 AH, Bilthoven, The Netherlands;NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK;University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Truro, TR1 3HD, UK;EMEP MSC-W, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, NO-0313, Oslo, Norway;Department Earth and Space Sciences, Chalmers University of technology, SE41308 Gothenburg, Sweden;NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK;Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR), PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands;Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands;European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Ispra (VA), Italy;PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, PO Box 303, 3720 AH, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Recommended Citation:
Adrian Leip,Gilles Billen,Josette Garnier,et al. Impacts of European livestock production: nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus and greenhouse gas emissions, land-use, water eutrophication and biodiversity[J]. Environmental Research Letters,2015-01-01,10(11)