Emissions reduction Opportunities: Gap Analysis

To identify the key knowledge gaps, barriers, enablers, and collaboration opportunities needed to accelerate on‑farm emission reductions in the pork industry. Guiding the development of new tools and resources to support industry‑wide emissions reduction over the next one to two decades and making this a strategic foundation for future action. 

Australian Pork Limited (APL), supported by the Australian Government, providing a guide for research, extension, and collaboration to drive the next phase of emission reduction in the Australian pork industry.  

This project combines an extensive literature review with industry workshops, producer interviews, and four detailed case studies, ensuring the findings reflect both technical evidence and real‑world on‑farm experience. 

Value for producers
The analysis shows that: 

• The pork sector has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% per kilogram of pork since 1980. 
• Many of the easiest and lowest‑cost emission‑reduction options have already been implemented. 
• Sustaining progress will require smarter, strategic investment in innovation, measurement, and new technology adoption. 
   

Recommendations
The project identified over 70 separate recommendations. Among the highest‑impact priorities are: 

• Clearer cost–benefit tools needed to guide on‑farm emissions decisions 
• Standardised CAP designs key to lower costs and faster adoption 
• Research into low‑cost alternatives essential for wider industry uptake 
• Real‑world demonstration sites critical for building producer confidence 
• Celebrate industry efficiency gains to strengthen engagement and momentum 
• Better emissions measurement needed to improve national reporting accuracy 
• Stronger cross‑industry collaboration can unlock shared solutions 
• New digital tools needed to help producers track and model emissions

The study also highlights significant emerging opportunities including short hydraulic retention time systems, solids separation technologies, renewable energy generation from biogas, and innovative feed‑related strategies, while emphasising the need for more producer‑friendly resources that integrate both environmental and financial benefits.

Together, the Gap Analysis Report and the accompanying producer case studies provide a clear roadmap for future research, policy, and investment. They signal the pork industry’s strong position and strong ambition to lead agricultural emissions reduction over the next decade.