Global pastureland use as reflected in inter-regional supply chain. (15th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Chaohui; Wu, Xudong; Chen, Kuang; Chen, Guoqian
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 322(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-15
• Subjects: Pastureland -- Livestock production -- Global supply chain -- Systems Input-output analysis; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Pastureland used for livestock grazing is globally much bigger than arable land. This study investigates the pastureland use embedded in global supply chains by using multi-regional systems input-output anlysis, tracing embodied pastureland use from source of exploitation to sink of final consumption in the global economy. The world's pastureland resources is shown reallocated through the supply chain mainly to the four major economies: EU, the United States, China, and Japan. These four economies are responsible for driving more than half of the global pastureland exploitation. Major supply chains responsible for the global reallocation of pastureland use include the cattle supply chain from Other Asia & Pacific to the United States, China, and Japan, and the cattle supply chain from Africa to EU and the Middle East. This paper demonstrates the nature and scale of the global reallocation of pastureland resources through the supply chain, highlighting the fact that the global shift of pastureland use from nature-based to economic-based may exacerbate ecological inequity between world regions. It is proposed that future policies and regulations should encourage sustainability goals not only on a regional level but on a global scale, finding pathways to sustainable and equitable livestock production by inter-regional collaboration. Highlights: Fragmented livestock supply chain causes burden-shifting of pastureland use. Four regions are responsible for driving half of global pastureland exploitation. Considerable amounts of pastureland use are embedded in industrial production. Developed regions show diversified pastureland use trade structures.