- The sector is involved in investments of 600 million euros in livestock production and 542 million euros in industries to move towards environmental neutrality and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The plan includes 529 projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 724 to reduce ammonia emissions, 220 focused on reducing emissions in transport and a further 110 investments on other sustainability aspects.
- The interprofessional organisations highlight the sector's firm commitment to reducing GHG emissions, especially methane emissions, through more efficient livestock management, the promotion of more balanced diets and the application of sustainability and digitalisation criteria in production processes.
MADRID, 5 November 2021
The Spanish livestock-meat sector is working in a coordinated manner to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to its activity by 30%, as part of its firm commitment to move towards environmental neutrality and compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as reported by the six interprofessional organisations of the sector, ASICI, AVIANZA, INTERCUN, INTEROVIC, INTERPORC and PROVACUNO, on the occasion of the Summit on Climate Change COP26, which is being held these days in Glasgow.
To achieve these reduction targets, 50% of which correspond to methane reductions (in line with the "Global Commitment on Methane", promoted by the USA and the European Union at COP26 and joined by 100 countries, the sector is involved in investments of 600 million euros in the field of animal production and some 542 million euros in the meat industries), which also include other objectives such as improving energy efficiency in industries and livestock facilities, manure, slurry and sewage sludge management operations, and feed and enteric fermentation. ), which also include other objectives such as improving energy efficiency in livestock industries and facilities, manure, slurry and sewage sludge management operations, and livestock feeding and enteric fermentation,
This entire plan, which is being developed to contribute to the solution of the climate change problems facing our planet, forms an important part of a strategic sectoral project linked to European funds, which will mobilise investments of more than 5,054 million euros to increase its environmental sustainability and its capacity for innovation, contributing to the recovery and economic transformation of our country.
This project involves 1,689 companies and livestock farmers from all the Autonomous Communities, 73.6% of which are SMEs, together with technological partners in the fields of circular economy, renewable energies and digitalisation.
The target includes a total of 529 investment proposals related to greenhouse gas reduction, 724 proposals to reduce ammonia emissions in installations, 220 proposals focused on reducing emissions in transport and 110 on other sustainability aspects.
Reduction of ammonia, water footprint and energy consumption
In addition to the ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, especially methane, the livestock-meat chain envisages the reduction of ammonia emissions from installations in the included sectors by an average value of 28% together with 6% in industry.
Likewise, energy consumption in farms and meat industries will also be reduced by 38% and 22%, respectively, with the projects undertaken.
The water footprint per kilogram of final product will also be reduced by an average of 18%, as a result of the reduction in water consumption following the automation and robotisation of processes, the control of water leaks and escapes due to the modernisation of water supply systems and facilities, as well as operations associated with the reuse and recovery of water for cleaning operations, supplying water to livestock or irrigating crops.
Finally, feed consumption will decrease by 15%, which in turn will lead to a reduction in GHG and ammonia emissions. And the consumption of other raw materials will also be reduced by 23% in livestock facilities and by 18% in meat industries.
The livestock-meat chain has always shown its commitment to contributing to the progress and development of Spanish society and its territory, as demonstrated by its ecosystem that generates employment, wealth, territorial structuring, a balanced and healthy diet and responsible consumption, as well as its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its activity.
ASICI. The Interprofessional Association of the Iberian Pig brings together producers and processing industries of Iberian products.
AVIANZA. The Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat brings together farms and production centres as well as cutting and processing plants.
INTERCUN. The Interprofessional Organisation for the promotion of the rabbit sector is made up of representatives of the rabbit production branch and rabbit meat processing and marketing companies.
INTEROVIC. The Interprofessional Organisation of Sheep and Goat Meat represents the producers of this livestock branch and the industrialists and marketers who generate and distribute the derived products.
INTERPORC. The Organización Interprofesional Agroalimentaria del Porcino de Capa Blanca represents all the sectors of the value chain of the white pig: production, processing and marketing.
PROVACUNO. The Interprofessional Agri-Food Organisation for Beef and Veal is made up of the main organisations of the producer sector and the processing/marketing sector.
