16.02.2021
Category: Beef and Sheep
By: Claus Deblitz

Measuring the transition towards sustainable grazing systems


In the context of the Opens external link in new window13th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture Claus Deblitz got the opportunity to present the agri benchmark Beef and Sheep Network and its research on silvopastoral systems as one means to mitigate climate change.

Claus Deblitz, coordinator of the agri benchmark Beef and Sheep Network, was part of the expert panel “The power of many: enhancing climate change mitigation through agricultural research networks (in times of pandemics)” He gave answers to the main questions of the Forum: What are the main challenges faced in your region and field of research regarding mitigating agricultural greenhouse gases and how can your research network help to address these challenges?

In South America agri benchmark is cooperating with several local organizations in Colombia, in Argentina, Brazil as well in Mexico. The Network´s research focuses on practice change analysis and the transition of traditional grazing systems towards more sustainable systems.

In his panel presentation, Claus showed initial findings from the case studies the project has conducted. Evidence for possible multiple wins through the introduction of silvopastoral systems to various extents was provided.

One effect of a silvopastoral system is the increase in the grass and forage yield which results from a combination of the introduction of the rotational grazing system, the planting of legume shrubs and trees the provision of shade through the trees. This allows rest and regrowth periods for the grass and nitrogen accumulation in nutritious forage from the legumes.

A better forage supply triggers higher stocking rates and a faster growth of cattle, allowing more cattle to be produced on the same land. On the environmental side, this leads to a reduction of greenhouse gases per kilogram meat produced. At the same time animal welfare scores can be improved. Finally, even if the initial investment costs are taken into account, positive profits are already achieved in the transition period.

You can check out the whole contribution in the linked video:

Opens internal link in current windowhttp://www.agribenchmark.org/agri-benchmark/video.html

Download the presentation:
Measuring the transition towards more sustainable grazing systems


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