The British red meat industry is hoping to ward off criticism of its environmental footprint by setting itself challenging carbon reduction targets.
Levy companies Eblex and Bpex both staged events this week outlining how farmers would reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade.
Eblex launched an English beef and lamb production roadmap, setting producers the target of cutting GHG emissions 11% by 2020. Bpex is currently consulting with the pork industry with a view to setting its own targets by May.
The reduction in beef and lamb, which equates to 1kg of CO2 equivalents per kg of meat produced, would be achieved through efficiencies in breeding, feeding and management techniques, said Eblex.
The selection of animals that convert feed to muscle mass more quickly and a switch to lower-footprint feeds will form an integral part of farmers' approach.
The second stage of Eblex's roadmap, due to be published next year, will look beyond the farmgate at processors' emissions. Further stages are expected to involve supermarkets.
"This is not an imposition to farmers if you are more efficient, you'll reduce your costs," said Eblex chief executive Richard Lowe. "The principle is continuous improvement."
The pork industry had already significantly reduced its footprint by using co-products and recycling grain and dairy waste for pigfeed, said Bpex head of marketing Chris Lamb. Wider adoption of anaerobic digestion was one way further GHG reductions could be made, he added.
"The pig industry is determined to participate fully in the environmental debate and play its part in reducing GHG emissions."
Last year the dairy industry became the first in fresh food to launch a roadmap. Its model has since been widely imitated by other sectors. This week Dairy UK revealed plans to extend the roadmap beyond milk into cheese, yoghurt and other fresh dairy products in a bid to bring even greater carbon reductions across the dairy aisle.