Mitigación del Metano del Sector Agroalimentario Una Estrategia Global de Salud

This report by the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) examines the intersection of methane emissions from the agri-food sector and human health. It identifies primary emission sources—including livestock, rice cultivation, and land-use change—and proposes systemic solutions that offer co-benefits for public health, such as reduced respiratory illness and improved nutrition.

• The agricultural sector is responsible for approximately 42% of anthropogenic methane emissions, with enteric fermentation from livestock accounting for 29% and livestock manure contributing 3%.
• Rice cultivation contributes 8–10% of global methane emissions due to flooded paddies. However, rice is significantly more land-efficient than beef, requiring 0.76m2 per 1000 kilocalories compared to 119.49m2 for beef.
• Land-use changes, particularly the expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia, significantly increase emissions. One study estimated that a single oil palm plantation's expansion contributed between 18% and 22% of Indonesia's total annual greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.
• Reducing methane from agriculture provides direct health benefits by lowering tropospheric ozone and reducing the inhalation of black carbon, benzene, and formaldehyde from crop burning, which otherwise aggravate respiratory conditions and affect children's lung health.
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) create environmental justice issues, particularly in North Carolina, where livestock outnumber people 35 to 1 in some areas. Manure lagoons can overflow during storms, contaminating drinking water and exposing low-income and Black communities to infectious agents.
• In Brazil, the world's top beef exporter, the industry often resists policies that reduce beef demand. However, improving cattle genetics and forage quality could reduce enteric fermentation emissions and increase farmer income.
• In Ethiopia, where 80% of the low-income rural population depends on livestock, the government's Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) plan aims to reduce emissions. A 2023 World Bank agreement worth $40 million targets the Oromia region to preserve forests and improve livestock management.
• The United States lacks mandatory agricultural methane limits or emission pricing. If all technically viable mitigation measures (excluding diet changes) were adopted, US livestock emissions could be reduced by 30%, saving an estimated 56 MtCO2e annually.
• Vietnam is the fifth largest methane emitter from rice. Implementing Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) techniques could reduce rice methane emissions by up to 48% and irrigation water use by 30% without reducing crop yields.
• Global food and agricultural subsidies average nearly $630 billion annually, primarily supporting rice, sugar, and meat, which creates disincentives for the production of fruits and vegetables.

APA

Vegh-Gaynor, G., Rowland, A., Quintana, A., & Nguyen, L. (2023). Mitigación del Metano del Sector Agroalimentario Una Estrategia Global de Salud. Global Climate and Health Alliance. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MethaneReport-Ag-ES.pdf

Chicago

Vegh-Gaynor, Gabriel, Amy Rowland, Amanda Quintana, and Linh Nguyen. Mitigación del Metano del Sector Agroalimentario Una Estrategia Global de Salud. Global Climate and Health Alliance, 2023. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MethaneReport-Ag-ES.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Vegh-Gaynor |first1=Gabriel |last2=Rowland |first2=Amy |last3=Quintana |first3=Amanda |last4=Nguyen |first4=Linh |title=Mitigación del Metano del Sector Agroalimentario Una Estrategia Global de Salud |publisher=Global Climate and Health Alliance |date=August 2023 |url=https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MethaneReport-Ag-ES.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{veghgaynor2023mitigacin, author = {Vegh-Gaynor, Gabriel and Rowland, Amy and Quintana, Amanda and Nguyen, Linh}, title = {{Mitigación del Metano del Sector Agroalimentario Una Estrategia Global de Salud}}, institution = {Global Climate and Health Alliance}, year = {2023}, month = aug, url = {https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MethaneReport-Ag-ES.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }