Project snapshot: Techno-economic assessment of emission reduction pathways for the Australian chicken meat industry

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The Australian chicken meat industry is highly efficient and is expected to achieve ongoing reductions in the product carbon footprint of chicken meat over time due to ongoing incremental genetic improvement and broader decarbonisation of the grid electricity supply. Government and customers, however, have set absolute and product-based emission reduction targets that include the chicken meat industry. This project aimed to develop emission-reduction pathways for the industry to meet these targets. It outlines the technologies and strategies required to achieve this as well as the cost of implementation.

Consultation with industry, including engagement with major grower networks and integrated company representatives, was undertaken to ensure the pathways and key assumptions were reflective of industry operating conditions. The project found that achieving absolute emission-reduction targets would increase the cost of production. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed literature and provide a robust evidence base. They will also support broader discussion with government, customers and regulators around potential cost-sharing and increases in selling prices to achieve additional greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction.