CAST publishes issue paper on air emissions
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EmailA recently published issue paper from CAST provides science based information on air emissions connected to livestock production.
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) recently published an issue paper providing science-based information on the air emission concerns connected to food animal production in the United States. Air Issues Associated with Animal Agriculture: A North American Perspective was authored by experts from six universities, and was led by Larry Jacobson from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering.
The paper provides science-based information on a wide scope of issues related to air emissions associated with livestock production. According to the paper, “the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is increasing efforts to monitor emissions from agriculture, so further research is important for all parties involved, and this paper provides solid, science-based information.”
Issues examined in the paper include the impact of odorous compounds, local and regional impacts of ammonia emissions and global concerns such as greenhouse gases. The paper provides an analysis of the air emissions related to the production of the major food animal species: swine, beef, poultry and dairy. Odor, particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), ammonia, greenhouse gases (GHG), hydrogen sulfide and bioaerosols are all discussed individually for each species.
Copies of the issue paper are free online to both CAST members and non-members alike. The publication of the paper was supported by United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute for Food and Agriculture and USDA’s Agriculture Research Service.
CAST is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization. Its policies and procedures for developing and disseminating the documents produced are the responsibility of the organization’s board comprised of representatives from scientific societies, commercial companies and trade organizations. The primary work of CAST is the development and publication of task force reports, commentary papers and papers written by scientists of many disciplines covering issues important to agriculture and food production.
