Unveiling the potential of organic farming in mitigating beef losses in Sweden

Abstract

CONTEXT

Food loss is a major problem, as it reduces food system efficiency. Loss of animals is of particular importance, as animal production generally has higher environmental impact.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives were to estimate beef loss rates on Swedish organic and conventional dairy and beef farms, to determine which system is better, and to calculate the food saving potential of assigning the loss rate of the best-performing system to the other.

METHODS

A material flow analysis based on data from the central register of bovine animals and slaughter weight statistics was performed. The flows included numbers and carcass weights of animals, grouped by breed, sex, age, and management system leaving farms for different destinations.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Organic farms lost on average 7.4 % of the yearly initial beef production, compared to the 19 % higher 8.8 % for conventional farms. Due to widely different conditions, comparisons between organic and conventional management should primarily be made per animal group. All animal groups had lower loss rates in the organic than in the conventional system. The food saving potential of ascribing organic loss rates to the conventional animals was 1300 tons of beef per year, equivalent to 10 % of all Swedish farm-level beef losses.

SIGNIFICANCE

Organic dairy and beef farming could be a food loss intervention capable of a notable loss reduction. The results also revealed that there is no goal conflict between increased organic production and reduced food loss in Swedish beef production.