Livestock currently contributes 26.7% to the GDP of the entire agricultural sector, but it also generates over 60 million tons of solid waste annually, putting significant pressure on the environment. Building a "green livestock" chain not only helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also fosters more sustainable growth for livestock industry businesses.
About 30% of the total greenhouse gas emissions nationwide come from the agricultural sector. Among these emissions, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming, especially pig farming, constitute a significant proportion.
Environmental Impacts:
Greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming primarily come from two sources: methane gas from animal digestion and CH4, N2O gases from animal waste. Information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development indicates that the total livestock waste in 2022 reached 81.8 million tons/year, with pig farming accounting for 44.9%, beef cattle 26.7%, buffalo 15.3%, poultry 8.1%, and dairy cattle 4.9% of the total livestock waste. Additionally, liquid waste generated from livestock activities in 2022 was estimated at 379 million cubic meters. However, only about 50% of solid waste and 20% of liquid waste are treated before being discharged into the environment.
According to Ms. Nguyen Quynh Hoa, Head of the Department of Science, Technology, Environment, and International Cooperation (Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), industrial livestock farming is one of the major sources of environmental pollution and significantly contributes to the total greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam. The inventory results show that methane emissions from cattle and pig farming consistently account for the largest share of total greenhouse gas emissions in the industry. Methane emissions from animal waste occur mainly in anaerobic conditions such as biogas digesters or areas with large amounts of animal waste but poor ventilation. Therefore, the largest methane emissions often occur in intensive livestock farming areas where water is used extensively for cleaning, such as pig farming.
Environmental pollution caused by livestock farming mainly stems from various sources such as solid waste, liquid waste, dust, noise, carcasses, and improper disposal of dead livestock and poultry. Bacterial contamination levels in livestock pens are significantly higher, around 30-40 times, compared to the outside air.
For instance, in Dong Nai province, considered the "livestock capital" of the country with over 2.5 million pigs and more than 26 million poultry, there are nearly 1,500 concentrated livestock farms and over 22,200 household livestock farms, mainly raising pigs and poultry. Most of these facilities are small and medium-sized farms. In recent years, the livestock industry in this area has experienced rapid growth in both quantity and scale. However, small-scale livestock farming, lack of planning, especially in densely populated areas, has led to significant environmental pollution. Therefore, livestock farmers in Dong Nai province are collectively investing in building and upgrading waste treatment facilities to meet environmental standards.
Businesses Proactively Responding to Net Zero Requirements:
Following the commitments made at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Vietnam has established comprehensive legal documents for the livestock sector, including the Livestock Law, decrees, and circulars. In particular, the Prime Minister has approved the "Livestock Development Strategy for the period 2022-2030, with a vision to 2045"; four industrial development projects for animal feed processing, promotion of scientific and technological activities, development of slaughter and processing industries, and livestock product market by 2030.
According to Dr. Nguyen Quoc Dat, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Livestock Association, the Association has proposed three contents to the government for sustainable livestock development. Firstly, there must be dedicated land for livestock farming in the Land Law to prevent livestock farms from being located in residential areas within 5 to 10 years of investment. Secondly, it is necessary to manage livestock products and establish strict import control fences, especially against illegal imports of livestock. Thirdly, the state must have supportive policies, especially in terms of taxes and finance, to encourage production changes along the chain and towards circular production for sustainable livestock development.
A current issue is the excessive use of raw protein in the livestock industry. According to Ms. Tran Dao Hong Ngoc, Director of Business Vietnam Food Company, feed and livestock waste are two important factors in total greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, controlling these two factors will significantly reduce carbon emissions into the environment. Ms. Ngoc emphasized that the livestock industry is currently using too much raw protein and must comply with the state's regulations. Ineffective use of raw protein will result in livestock not being able to digest properly, leading to emissions into the environment.
Similarly concerned about environmental protection, Mr. Nguyen Lam Thanh Son, a representative of CP Vietnam Livestock Company (Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province), stated that due to the high emissions from raw nutrition solutions, the company has been applying refined nutrition for many years. The company also applies machinery and equipment with energy-saving directions, almost eliminating the use of coal in the production process. CP's livestock farms have also implemented biogas waste treatment.
According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hai, a representative of CJ Vietnam Animal Feed Company (Ho Chi Minh City branch), limiting the amount of protein in animal feed contributes to reducing carbon emissions into the environment. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Korea previously set a minimum protein limit in animal feed. However, after signing the agreement to reduce carbon emissions to zero, Korea changed the law from setting a minimum level to setting a maximum protein threshold. "Low-protein feed can be applied while ensuring animal productivity and reducing emissions. This is one of the solutions we can take to achieve the Net Zero goal by 2050," Mr. Hai affirmed.
In order to proactively transition to green and sustainable production and to accompany the government in achieving a net zero emission target by 2050, livestock industry corporations and businesses need to make changes in their approach to reducing emissions in production.
The carbon emissions inventory in livestock farming is about to be implemented. In order to meet the carbon emission reduction requirements for export to markets that demand reduced carbon emissions, the Vietnamese livestock industry must focus on transformation to produce low-emission livestock products.
Source: Thuan Nguyen - Nhan Dan Newspaper
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