Reducing Green House Gas Emissions - Ermias Kabreab, World Food Center

$\"\"$ Green House Gas Emissions are a major cause of catastrophic climate change. Of Green House Gas Emissions, Agriculture is responsible for 8 % and livestock alone represents 4%. Consequently suggested solutions have included drastic cutbacks in meat consumption. It\’s a tough proposal since only a tiny fraction of the earth is fit for produce and crop farming. Much more land is suitable only for grazing by ruminants such as cattle, sheep, dairy, goats, deer and bison. The problem is that when ruminants use their special stomachs to digest the plant material that humans cannot, it causes them to belch. The belching emits methane, a potent green house gas. So how will the world feed 10 billion people when we run out of farmable land and the vast majority of land is only suitable for grazing livestock, emitting green house gas (methane)? Research underway at UC Davis is discovering that seaweed, abundant in the world\’s oceans, when incorporated in to feed rations can reduce the methane emission of cattle by 60%. The prospects for this and similar solutions through science are shared in TableTalk with Dr.Ermias Kebreab. Dr. Kebreab is the Director of the World Food Center and UC Davis Dean of Global Engagement.

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About Table Talk

The Farm To Table Talk podcast is a virtual table for conversations about ideas, insights, and journeys of chefs, farmers, policymakers, researchers, NGOs and the food-focused public about our food and how it is grown, prepared and shared throughout society. The host, Rodger Wasson is a food and agriculture veteran. Raised on his family’s farm in Central Illinois, he has worked for and with every size, type, and age of farmers and aspiring farmers. Whether new, old, big or small, they are all part of today’s food movement. The Farm to Table Talk podcasts are for those interested in journeys within the modern food system and the stories behind our every bite. Contact rodger@idea-farming with your thoughts, suggestions or questions.