A recent research by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with livestock supply chains are about the 14.5 percent of all human-caused GHG releases.

According to the report Tackling climate change through livestock: A global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities however, greenhouse gas emissions by the livestock sector could be cut by as much as 30 percent through the wider use of existing best practices and technologies.

The report makes a comprehensive estimate of livestock's contribution to global warming and finds out that the main sources of emissions are feed production and processing (45 percent of the total), outputs of GHG during digestion by cows (39 percent), and manure decomposition (10 percent). The remainder is attributable to the processing and transportation of animal products.

 The study also reveals that significant emission reductions are within the reach of livestock producers, by widely applying efficiency practices which are already in use by some operators. These actions could be successfully applied to all species, systems and regions and would at the same time increase the livestock productivity and provide higher incomes.
To achieve this goal, an adequate mix of policies, incentives, and awareness raising is needed in order to facilitate the transfer and use of efficient practices and technologies especially in developing countries, where much of the sector's mitigation potential is found.

FAO is actively working with the public and private sector, producers, research and academia, civil society, NGOs, and inter-governmental organizations to establish The Global Agenda of Action in support of Sustainable Livestock Sector Development.

Currently, the Agenda is targeting three priority areas where improving practices can potentially bring large gains: promoting more efficient practices, improved grassland management and better manure management.