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  • Weitong Long
    China Agricultural University, Beijing
  • Hongliang Wang
    China Agricultural University, Beijing
  • Yong Hou
    China Agricultural University, Beijing
  • Dave Chadwick
  • Yifei Ma
    China Agricultural University, Beijing
  • Zhenling Cui
    China Agricultural University, Beijing
  • Fusuo Zhangf
    China Agricultural University, Beijing
Pig production contributes considerably to land use and greenhouse gas (GHG) and reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions. Land use strategies were widely proposed, but the spillover effects on biological flow are rarely explored. Here, we simultaneously assessed the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and cropland footprints of China’s pig production at the provincial scale in 2017. The environmental impacts of land use strategies were further evaluated. Results show that one kg live-weight pig production generated an average of 1.9 kg CO2-equiv and 59 g Nr emissions, occupying 3.5 m2 cropland, with large regional variations. A large reduction in GHG (58–64%) and Nr (12–14%) losses and occupied cropland (10–11%) could be achieved simultaneously if combined strategies of intensive crop production, improved feed-protein utilization efficiency, and feeding co-products were implemented. However, adopting a single strategy may have environmental side-effects. Reallocating cropland that pigs used for feed to plant food alternatives would enhance human-edible energy (3–20 times) and protein delivery (1–5 times) and reduce C and N footprints, except for rice and vegetables. Reallocating cropland to beef and milk production would decrease energy and protein supply. Therefore, a proper combination of land use strategies is essential to alleviate land use changes and nutrient emissions without sacrificing food supply.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4440-4451
Number of pages12
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume55
Issue number8
Early online date1 Apr 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Apr 2021

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