Third Project Steering Committee meeting (by written procedure April/May 2022)

The Tengchong suggested version of the report proposed the following revisions in the scenario setting: 1) the scale of beef cattle breeding is expected to be 300,000 heads by 2025, and the number remain unchanged in 2035 and 2050, 2) the total amount of pesticides and fertilizers used in 2020 were 410.77 tons and 23,300 tons respectively, and 3) the potential area for the development of agrofores. [...] In addition, I would like to suggest on the scenario setting: the methane emission of cattle breeding is significant, and the increase in the scale of the beef cattle industry will increase the greenhouse gas emissions. [...] The report was developed based on openness and active incorporation of local stakeholders’ opinions, so that the scenarios set out in the report will be an important guide to the development of sustainable agriculture in Tengchong, local biodiversity conservation and the enhancement of ecosystem services in the future. [...] In the scenario analysis, especially in the optimistic scenario, methane emission control measures for the beef cattle industry should be considered, such as i) precise nutrition control in large scale breeding to improve the absorption and use efficiency of feeds and reduce the methane and other gas emissions due to incomplete rumen digestion; ii) the use of certain feed additives, such as the se. [...] To deal with the implications of the GHG emissions from the beef cattle breeding, the project proposes to focus on the management of the feeds, and add two measures under the positive scenario: 1) fine management of the feeds to reduce the total amount of feeds used and increase the use efficiency, and 2) addition of methane inhibitors to the feeds (such as probiotics and certain enzymes).