Why Profitability and Low Emissions Intensity Go Hand in Hand

For producers maintaining the careful balance of profitability with environmental impact is often the natural outcome of effective management. The most profitable agricultural businesses tend to have the lowest emissions intensity, which means they’re producing more with less. Emissions efficiency, a key component of this approach, measures how effectively a business can reduce emissions per unit of output (e.g., per kilogram of meat or grain produced) by optimising inputs and maximising outputs.

Why is this the case? When you cut back on resources—like fuel, feed, or fertiliser—and improve productivity, you’re reducing both costs and emissions. For example, the strategies that increase reproductive rates, enhance daily gains, optimise live weight, and minimise mortality are not only smart for profitability but also critical for reducing emissions.

This means that your emissions report can become a business tool, helping to identify areas that could further improve efficiency and support stronger yields.

For a deeper dive, catch the joint Agrista and Ruminati webinar on maximising productivity while minimising emissions intensity (originally presented at Beef 2024). Data analyst Tanisha Shields covers how specific factors like reproductive rate, daily weight gain, calving timing, and more can impact emissions for beef producers. Click here for her insights and practical steps to increase both profitability and sustainability.