Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef launches harmonized Carbon Footprint Guideline
To ensure a global approach to sustainable beef production
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) recently launched the GRSB Carbon Footprint Guideline, which will help sector-wide and global consistency in carbon footprint calculations for beef cattle production. Blonk advised on and developed the methodological approach and drafted the guideline in close collaboration with the GRSB Climate Science Committee. The aim of The Guideline is to enable the international beef industry to report and monitor greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions consistently, identify mitigation actions and ensure a global approach to sustainable beef production.
Harmonization of the footprint calculations rules
Within the international beef industry the need for GHG calculations has been recognized. More and more organizations use carbon footprints to monitor environmental performance and further improvement of the beef sector. However, GRSB noticed that across the sector different methodologies and data were used, which lead to inconsistencies in calculation and reporting. These inconsistencies limited the possibility of performing reliable comparisons of analysis across the sector posing a danger of confusion and contradiction, which in turn could hinder the efforts of the industry towards a more sustainable beef cattle production.
Therefore, GRSB identified the need for harmonized sectoral carbon footprint calculation rules. Blonk supported the GRSB Climate Science Committee in defining a harmonized methodological approach and draft the guideline. The GRSB Carbon Footprint Guideline is developed following ISO 14040, 14044 and 14067 and integrates current best available knowledge from international standards such as the FAO LEAP Guidelines, IDF carbon footprint guideline, Dairy PEFCR, Feed PEFCR.
The use of the GRSB Carbon Footprint Guideline enables the international beef sector to:
- Report GHG emissions from the farming and processing stages of the beef value chain
- Monitor emissions generation over time to demonstrate progress
- Identify hotspots to focus mitigation actions
- Determine the impact of different mitigation options
The GRSB Carbon Footprint Guideline integrates current best available methodological knowledge in climate change impact modelling for beef cattle. It also focuses on making it easier for practitioners to implement rules, reproduce and interpret their results. Blonk is pleased to have taken part in the development of this guideline which will hopefully be widely used by different stakeholders in the sector, helping them understand their carbon footprint, its main drivers and more importantly find opportunities for reduction.
About GRSB
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) is a worldwide network of people and organizations powering progress in sustainable beef.
Across its global roundtable and 12 regional roundtables, GRSB has over 500 members, working in 24 different countries. Collectively, its members are responsible for more than two thirds of cross-border beef trade.
GRSB powers progress in sustainable beef by setting ambitious goals around reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving land use and animal welfare. To help achieve these goals, GRSB champions best practice, facilitates the exchange of knowledge and fosters a collaborative approach.
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Nicolò Braconi
Please get in touch with Nicolò if you would like to know more about this project or if you are interested in Carbon Footprint Guidelines for your sector.