Having accurate data, both at farm and industry level, is crucial for the future of a sustainable agricultural industry, was a key message at the conference. This is to both to demonstrate to the wider world that livestock are part of the solution and not the problem in terms of climate change and for farmers to improve their own business.
The consensus was that for a business to be sustainable it has to be profitable, with speakers highlighting genetics, soil health, nutrition, animal health and management as key areas where changes could not only reduce a businesses carbon footprint but improve its bottom line.
Net emissions
Prof John Gilliland, from Queens University Belfast, and an AHDB advisor, said the narrative had to change as it was not all about zero emissions. He said it was net emissions, and not gross emissions which were important.
He presented results from the ARC Zero project which involved seven farms in Northern Ireland measuring both greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon sequestration.
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He said: "We have to learn our numbers. You have to have a baseline for emissions and for carbon stocks, as this will enable you to make better decisions and change behaviour."
By measuring greenhouse gas emissions and carbon stocks in the soil and trees and estimating carbon sequestration, he said the farms were able to demonstrate their net carbon position.
Measuring change
New technologies were used for this including an Aerial LiDAR survey which can take 40 scans per metre and soil sampling to one metre deep, which Prof Gilliland explained, if repeated every five years, could measure actual change.
The project also demonstrated that across the seven farms, 听97 per cent of the carbon stored was in the soil, not trees.
Read also: Survey demonstrates farmers' commitment to improving biodiversity
The ARC Zero farmers then focused on making changes which they thought would be most cost effective. These were improving efficiency of genetics, age to slaughter, cow size and animal health, improving soil pH, increasing the use of legumes and multi species pastures, reducing use of nitrogen fertiliser, planting trees and hedgerow management.
Individual farms
Prof Gilliland said: "The results showed that some farms were beyond net zero already, but it is easier for some businesses than others. Every farm is different and when making changes pick what is right for your business. It is important to remember it is about achieving net zero for the sector, not for every every farm.
"But we have to know our numbers, as this puts power back into our own hands and will allow us to lead and not be led by our global competitors."
