with A reduction of the livestock population in Flanders have a positive impact on the emission of greenhouse gases, and thus climate, and to create more space. The university emeritus professor William His, calculated in the different scenarios, and makes the case for the debate, just as it is in the Netherlands.
in Flanders there are now about 1.3 million cattle, 5.8 million pigs, 34 million chickens. The total area of arable land amounts to about 600 000 hectares, which corresponds to the area of East – flanders and West-Flanders together with approximately two thirds of the livestock industry. As well as the import of soybean and other animal feed is taken into account, the total amount of space it requires, even 850.000 acres of land.
What about the cattle in Flanders, with a 30 per cent will be reduced? There is 255.000 ha of land, of which half of them are in their own country, according to the Situation. He makes the case that the surface to turn it into a forest or nature reserve. “This is not only an important measure to sequester carbon, but that it would be in our densely populated region and also the us well-being and that of the overbemestingsproblematiek down.”
the Game
in Addition to the reduction in livestock is also good for the greenhouse gas emissions. The emissions that result from manure storage, and fertilizer and the methane that is released in the digestive system of ruminants accounts for almost 5% of the total emissions in the region. In addition, livestock farming is the main source of the ammonia. This leads to the formation of particulate matter, and affects the biodiversity. A reduction of the livestock population by 30 per cent, according to the Situation, both for the emission of methane as ammonia proportionately reduced.
you can use this service landbouwexpert the crew were also a number of more far-reaching scenarios. For example, if we only had the animals for their own consumption could keep it, and that, without imported soya would be like to feed close to 230,000 hectares of land to be released. But, it’s not in foreign countries, as in Flanders, it would just be more land would be needed for the soybeans to be replaced. Progress is being made, in addition, in order for our world to be cut in half, and then nearly half of the livestock used in the country of the free, more than 450.000 ha. In case of a total conversion to organic farming is, on the other hand, about fifty per cent, more land is needed, and increases in emissions of greenhouse gases slightly.
to greenhouse gas emissions, significantly reduce
in The scenario, the livestock 30 percent, and to shrink according to the Situation to be realistic, “especially when you know that a lot of the older farmers are difficult for successors to be found and there is a natural run-off will be”, it could be the canon EOS. The retired professor, makes the case for the debate. “I don’t see how the aims and objectives of the coalition agreement – it is less pressure on the environment, climate change and biodiversity and a living countryside can be reached in the herd, to get. If we can, by 2050, the greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent to reduce the agricultural sector have a contribution to make.”
The Farmers ‘union acknowledges that the management of the livestock, the environmental impact will be reduced,” says spokeswoman Vanessa Saenen in the EOS. “But for us, it is a reduction of the emission in the core of the matter, and that it should not be narrowed down to a mere reduction in the number of animals. We can focus better on ways to leverage technology, foster innovation, and to further investigate the emissions reduction.” The Farmers also pointed out that a reduction of the stocking rate by 30% would equate to a loss of about 4,500 full-time jobs. “That is, of course, can not be from one day to the next. There is a need for flanking measures and a well thought out plan that takes into account the employment and the focus is shifting towards products with high added value.”
