Dr. Frank Mitloehner:

I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for inviting me to discuss methane emissions from livestock. As a professor of animal science and air quality specialist in the department of animal science at the University of California, Davis, much of my work revolves around studying the emissions of livestock to determine their contribution to air pollution and climate change. My position at the university puts me in the leading agricultural state in the US, where half of all US produce and 20% of all dairy products are being grown. Here in California, we have a dairy herd very similar in size to that of Ireland. I research and speak throughout the world on animal agriculture discussing how livestock produces greenhouse gas emissions and how we can mitigate them.

We clearly see that demand for animal-sourced foods is rising and the bulk of livestock emissions are coming from less efficient regions of the world. Reducing herd sizes is not a practical solution, especially in Ireland, where farmers are very efficient producers. If they scaled back their herds, production would likely move to another region so that global demand could be met. Given how proficient Irish farmers are, those picking up the slack, so to speak, may well produce less sustainably than Irish farmers. This is called leakage, a phenomenon that could well lead to a spike - not a reduction - in greenhouse gas emissions. Make no mistake: animal agriculture has indeed played a role in advancing atmospheric warming - not to the extent that other sectors such as transportation and energy have - but a role nonetheless. Furthermore, it can help to limit warming further. Granted, it will require a departure from business as usual and require farmers to embrace innovation and the adoption of new technologies but if you think about it, those things have never been obstacles to those looking to improve their operations.

Across the world, countries are looking for solutions to reduce emissions from their livestock. Here in California, the state is working with farmers to reduce methane emissions in dairies and they are seeing promising results through collaboration. Farmers can and should be part of Ireland's approach to reducing greenhouse gases. I say this as someone who has dedicated his career to helping to mitigate emissions in the livestock sector and as someone who holds our farmers in the highest regard. The sector has room to improve and could feasibly reduce emissions by 20% to 30% by employing emerging technologies. In fact, we are doing just that in California. Yes, Ireland can reach its goals, keep its farms viable and ensure food systems can meet demand, which will only increase as the global population keeps growing.

The old saying that you cannot manage what you cannot measure applies as well to methane emitted by cattle herds. Ireland is distinctive in that its cattle are primarily raised on pasture, which has significant carbon sequestration capacity. What is surprising is it is not well known how much carbon is being sequestered by Irish farms. That needs to be better understood as we discuss carbon accounting and set emissions targets. Solutions are available right now that can reduce methane emissions from cattle. These solutions will likely need to be tweaked to fit the Irish way of raising livestock but that is not a formidable challenge. Feed additives are promising with significant potential to reduce enteric methane emissions in livestock. Bovaer, also known as 3NOP, has recently been recognised by the European Union as a proven methane-reduction feed additive with the potential of reducing by more than 30% and other additives are on the way.

California has reduced the emissions of more than 2 million Mt CO2 eq annually using anaerobic digesters. We have reduced 30% of the dairy sector's methane over the past five years. While I understand anaerobic digesters are a major departure from the Irish way of dairy production, the critical point is that we are formulating real, workable solutions to a problem many believe can only be tackled through draconian herd size reductions and dietary changes.

The global population is on trend to triple within our lifetimes, representing an enormous food security and natural resource challenge. Even now, we are seeing food security issues reveal themselves as parts of Europe are at war. Meeting these challenges will require the world to produce plant- and animal-sourced food and produce them more efficiently, using both high quality and marginal agricultural lands. However, first, we need to examine the facts and not engage in hyperbole.

Ireland already plays a large role in producing food for the world. More than 90% of its beef and dairy products are used in homes outside its borders. Irish farmers produce animal-sourced foods more efficiently than many other regions, while always striving to improve as they provide nutritious food to those who need it at home and abroad. Given the nation’s role in global food supply, we would do well to allow it to be part of a global solution to limiting climate change.

I thank the Chair and I am happy to entertain any questions.