Things to Crow About...

As this edition of 'Things to Crow About' goes to Press, COP 15 is taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark.

This meeting otherwise known as the Conference of the Parties (COP) or the UN Climate Change Conference 2009 is the 15th meeting of the 192 nations of the world on the subject. The COP 15 takes place over a period of two weeks in an attempt to find possible agreement amongst all nations on slowing global warming and reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. Nations face the invidious dilemma at this and similar meetings of the dual challenge of balancing environmental issues with economic growth and social well-being.

While there is general agreement on the scientific evidence that supports global warming, there is no consensus on the role of Man in the process. Is it that we are in the midst of a normal planetary cycle or is the warming attributable primarily to Man's activities?

Whatever the answers, there is evidence to support the view that agriculture is a significant contributor to GHG emissions. The carbon footprint of agriculture is felt to be high with livestock being particularly significant. In a November 2009 study entitled The Health Benefits of Tackling Climate Change, the Lancet (UK) stated:

"Agriculture and food production contributes 10-12% to GHG emissions livestock farming accounts for 80% of this eating less meat and dairy products could reduce effects of climate change and have great benefits to cardio-vascular health."

The widely-cited 2006 FAO Report Livestock's Long Shadow had earlier stated that, livestock-related activities contribute 18% 0f GHG emissions. A World Watch November 2009 report Livestock and Climate Change by Goodland & Anhang proposed much higher emissions.

In recognising that there are synergies and tensions in the food supply chain between the Public Health, nutritional well-being, the environment, economic stability and social equality, the CPA takes the position that agriculture and related industries in our region and in the world contribute significantly to the nutritional, social and economic well-being of the communities they serve.

The region's poultry industry has worked assiduously over the last forty years to reach the present position of being technologically progressive, providing more than 95% self sufficiency in poultry meats, evolving to become the largest agro-industrial enterprise in the region, contributing in a major way to our regional economies, supplying >60% of the protein requirements of our people and providing an increasing range of competitively-priced nutritional products.

We have already stated in our first edition of this Newsletter Vol 1 (1), the results of the Cranfield Study done in England which showed that of all livestock industries, poultry has the smallest carbon footprint.

Whether there is an agreement or not in Copenhagen, whether numerical targets on reducing GHG emissions are achieved or not, it is clear that all Man's activities will in the future be influenced by the ongoing debates and discussions. The high levels of public awareness will influence public policy. In developing such policy, we urge policy makers to be aware of the balance between maintaining the present high levels of food security which the poultry industry provides and an environmentally-effective regulatory framework.

In the meantime, the CPA will continue to invest in cutting edge technology which reduces the carbon footprint of our industry and improves our competitive position. Witness, for instance, our huge investments in tunnel-ventilated housing which inter alia have reduced feed conversion ratios from >2.0 to below 1.75. In addition, our many investments in waste rendering have considerably reduced our waste emissions and added to protein recovery.

Tunnel-Ventilated Housing

In the future, the Caribbean Poultry industry will have to continue increasing production to meet the many nutritional demands of our Caribbean peoples and the needs of our growing populations. The industry has in the past shown its ability and capacity to rise to the challenge. We are confident of our ability to continue to satisfy the needs of our people with safe, satisfying and competitively-priced meats and protein products while simultaneously meeting our commitments to sustainability and corporate and social responsibility.

The Caribbean poultry industry reiterates its commitment to work with our Governments and our communities in designing and developing the necessary and appropriate fiscal and regulatory instruments to improve sustainability and a climate-resilient future.

We also urge our negotiators on the world stage to take the robust position that in recognising the need for an internationally-coordinated strategy, we as latecomers to industrialisation must not be placed at a technological and competitive disadvantage to the developed economies.