Management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from swine production systems

Total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from swine production systems in Canada can be estimated at 1,835 kT of CO2-equivalent per year, which correspond to about 3% of the total agricultural emissions, or 0.3% of the total Canadian anthropogenic emissions, or 0.006% of the total world GHG emissions. There currently exist a number of technological and management options for reducing GHG emissions associated with manure management within those systems. However, it is important that GHG mitigation in pork production systems be addressed from an integrated perspective that includes other agronomic, economic, environmental, health and safety, social and technical considerations. In addition to GHG emission reduction, another important issue that will need to be addressed in the short term is the adaptation of Canadian pork production systems to climate change in terms of availability of feed materials and water and on the design and management of production facilities.