Greenhouse gas sequestration in poultry farming: Strategies for sustainable production and environmental impact mitigation

Intensive poultry production is a significant contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for roughly 8 % of the GHG emissions from 14.5 % of the global livestock sector. The main sources are feed production (often over half of total emissions), manure management, and on-farm energy use, which together releases substantial carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The consequences of climate change, including elevated temperatures and severe weather, threaten poultry health and productivity, emphasizing the necessity for mitigation efforts. This review integrates current understanding of GHG emissions from poultry production systems and critically examines mitigation strategies that support sustainable low-carbon poultry farming. Significant strategies emphasized include circular economic principles (nutrient recycling, waste-to-energy conversion) and the integration of renewable energy sources (solar, biogas) to reduce the sector's carbon footprint. Feed-based interventions, including precision nutrition and alternative protein sources (microalgae), can lower emissions by improving feed efficiency and reducing nitrogen excretion. Improved manure management techniques like aerobic composting, anaerobic digestion, and biochar application mitigate methane and nitrous oxide release while enhancing nutrient recovery. Technological innovations in precision farming, such as IoT-enabled monitoring and AI-driven decision support, optimize feeding, housing conditions, and resource use, cutting waste and emissions. Genetic selection for feed-efficient and climate-resilient poultry breeds offers further long-term reductions in GHG emissions. The comprehensive implementation of these strategies, along with supportive legislation and ongoing research, is crucial for overcoming economic and practical challenges. This holistic strategy will facilitate the poultry industry's transformation towards a sustainable, climate-resilient, low-emission future.