Browsing by Author "Falcucci, Alessandra"

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    Greenhouse gas emissions from Uganda's cattle corridor farming systems
    (Agricultural systems, 2019) Kiggundu, Nicholas; Ddungu, Stanley Peter; Wanyama, Joshua; Cherotich, Sam; Mpairwe, Denis; Zziwa, Emmanuel; Mutebi, Faizal; Falcucci, Alessandra
    The objective of this study was to estimate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from practised cattle farming systems (Stall, Semi-Intensive, Grazing, Tethering and Scavenging) and identify potential areas for GHG mitigation. Using the Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM-i), GHG emissions in 2016 were 2009 Gg CO2-eq/yr of which the Grazing system contributed 88.5%. Enteric fermentation produced about 75.8% of the total GHG emissions. At an annual growth rate of 3%, the projected GHG for 2020 and 2025 would increase by 12.6% and 30.7% respectively. The milk and meat emission intensities were far higher than the global averages. A reduction in grazing by 10% and a 10% increase in use of anaerobic digesters to handle manure resulted in a 4.4% reduction in annual GHG emission.
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    Livestock : On our plates or eating at our table? A new analysis of the feed/ food debate
    (Global food security, 2017) Mottet, Anne; De Haan, Cees; Falcucci, Alessandra; Tempio, Giuseppe; Opio, Carolyn; Gerber, Pierre
    Livestock contribute to food security by supplying essential macro- and micro-nutrients, providing manure and draught power, and generating income. But they also consume food edible by humans and graze on pastures that could be used for crop production. Livestock, especially ruminants, are often seen as poor converters of feed into food products. This paper analyses global livestock feed rations and feed conversion ratios, with specific insight on the diversity in production systems and feed materials. Results estimate that livestock consume 6 billion tonnes of feed (dry matter) annually – including one third of global cereal production – of which 86% is made of materials that are currently not eaten by humans. In addition, soybean cakes, which production can be considered as main driver or land-use, represent 4% of the global livestock feed intake. Producing 1 kg of boneless meat requires an average of 2.8 kg human-edible feed in ruminant systems and 3.2 kg in monogastric systems. While livestock is estimated to use 2.5 billion ha of land, modest improvements in feed use efficiency can reduce further expansion.