Summary

This project is to assess the greenhouse gas emissions intensity of kangaroo products – focusing on table meat and leather production – and to compare these to more traditional sources of red meat and leather. As kangaroos don’t emit methane, it is expected the result will be favourable for the kangaroo product.

The project methodology will draw on life cycle analysis (LCA) methodologies in order to achieve its objective. The comparative analysis will be taken up to the point of departure of the finished meat or blue leather product from the processing plant. All greenhouse gas emissions that are inputs to production of kangaroo and traditional cattle/sheep meat and leather – upstream of the processing plant gate – will be compared. We will also account for product processing emissions – although we expect these to be similar, irrespective of animal – beef, lamb or kangaroo. The resulting carbon emissions footprint for product will be normalized on a standard unit basis – per kilogram of meat and per square metre of wet blue hide ex-processing plant gate.

The output of the project will be a report. This will be circulated to all kangaroo industry members, published on the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia website and in its newsletter, and be made available via RIRDC. Industry members will circulate it to major customers, helping to promote the environmental credentials of kangaroo products.

Program

Kangaroo

Research Organisation

ACIL Tasman Pty Ltd

Objective Summary

To assess the greenhouse gas emissions of kangaroo products – focusing on table meat and leather production.

To compare these to more traditional sources of red meat and leather.