Associating climate change mitigation with protein security: The case of Ireland

Meeting the world’s growing population’s protein demand, while minimising the environmental impact of food production, is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Livestock production systems are facing challenges regarding their environmental impact, while cropping systems are seen as more environmentally friendly protein sources. This dichotomy is observed in environmental policies. While the contribution of protein production to climate change must be reduced, the nutritional impact for a growing world population and the economic impact for farmers must be considered in policy developments. Protein security is defined as the number of individuals having their protein requirements met daily. This paper evaluates the net contribution, i.e., considering human edible inputs and outputs involved in the production process, of animal- and plant-based products, to protein output and security for the Republic of Ireland. The effects of environmental policies on this contribution are also analysed. Milk and arable production contribute more to net protein security than beef or sheep meat production. Overall, the Irish protein sector can meet the protein requirements of ca. 20 million people annually, 35 million people if digestibility is considered. While both Scenarios investigated would lead to a reduction in GHG emissions, a Business-as-Usual Scenario would lead to a decrease in gross margin but to an increase in protein output and security. A Climate Policy Scenario would lead to an increase in net protein output, but net digestible protein output would decrease due to beef protein being substituted for plant-based protein sources with a lower digestibility. • All production systems are net producers of digestible protein. • Ireland can meet the protein requirements of 20 million people annually, 35 million if digestibility is considered. • New environmental policies involve possible decreases in livestock units. • Such policies would affect economic, environmental and nutritional variables. • Farm-level and national trade revenues could decline.