Welsh red meat is greenest in UK

Red meat produced in the mountains of mid Wales is among the greenest in the UK according to a study.

Beef and lamb producers from 20 farms in the Cambrian Mountains volunteered to have the carbon footprints of their businesses scrutinised to understand how they could reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The study revealed that on average these 20 farms absorbed 58% of their local emissions footprints while three of the farms were classified as “carbon negative” – they absorbed more carbon emissions than they produced.

The greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural management, existing land use and fuel or other energy use of the farms all came under the spotlight.

Each farm then received recommendations on how further reductions could be made to their own carbon footprint. Huwel Manley, specialist support team manager for the Countryside Council for Wales, which collaborated in the project, says these included simple measures such as allowing a percentage of farm hedgerows to grow rather than being cut each year, or increasing woodland cover by 1ha.

“On one of the farms surveyed this would account for a 12% reduction in the carbon footprint,” said Mr Manley.

Lamb producer James Raw, who chairs the Cambrian Mountains Lamb Producer Group, said members of the group were pleased to see how their own farms contributed to carbon absorption. “It’s been great to see that the red meat produced in the Cambrian Mountains is some of the greenest in the UK,” he said.

The Cambrian Mountain Initiative will now work with the farms to see how best to implement the recommendations.

A report of the study’s findings will be launched as part of HRH, The Prince of Wales’ Start Festival at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales on Wednesday (8 September).