A regionalized biophysically based model for the turnover of biomass and enteric methane emissions in the global food system

Abstract

We have developed an extensive model for the turnover of biomass in the global food system. The turnover is driven by the (human) food intake and the necessary primary production above ground of major crops from arable land and pasture is calculated by an extensive physical modelling from harvest to food (energy and materials turnover). The model will be used to calculate the global emissions of methane from enteric fermentation, today, as well as under various possible scenarios for the agricultural sector. A preliminary estimate of the global methane emissions from enteric fermentation in domestic animals for the years 1992-94 is 110 Tg/y.