Red meat-an essential partner to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions

Abstract

Recent work in Australia has shown the possibility of a carbon neutral red meat industry in a program titled Carbon Neutral 2030. This paper summarizes options to significantly reduce methane emissions from ruminants given this is the major greenhouse gas from Australian agriculture. • Research has identified the key role of novel supplements, anti-methanogenic legumes and rumen microbial manipulation. • Novel ruminant supplements such as marine macro algae (Asparogopsis spp.) at low dietary levels could significantly mitigate methane emissions in farming systems with improved productivity and no detectable impacts reported for animal health or meat quality. • This article demonstrates how the energetic pathways for methane abatement within the rumen can be manipulated, with potential intergenerational impact on herd methane emissions as a potential future strategy. • Economic analysis investigates productivity and carbon abatement potential for a range of methane mitigation strategies.