By Blake Jackson
Animals play an important role in creating sustainable food systems, but understanding their environmental impact requires looking beyond livestock alone, according to Jasmine Dillon, Assistant Professor of Global Livestock Sustainability at Cornell University.
As reported by Jackie Swift, communications specialist for the Cornell CALS Department of Animal Science, Dillon's research examines how animals, crops, soil, natural resources and people interact within agricultural systems.
With a background in animal science, Dillon approaches research from an agroecological perspective, evaluating how farm management practices, policies and sustainability measurements influence environmental outcomes.
Their work uses life cycle assessments to measure the environmental impacts of products such as milk, meat, and corn, along with process modeling to understand how resources are converted into agricultural outputs.
“From an ecological standpoint, the animal is a recycler of energy and matter that’s in the ecosystem,” said Dillon. “It’s just one part of something much bigger.”
Dillon also uses mathematical modeling to connect developments in agricultural research with broader questions about environmental sustainability and policy decisions. Their work involves collaboration with economists, soil scientists, and social scientists to understand the relationships between agricultural production and natural resources.
One major initiative is the City Food Policy Project, where Dillon serves as co-principal investigator alongside Becca Jablonski, visiting associate professor with the SC Johnson College of Business.
The research team developed an agent-based food system model using interviews and focus groups with farmers, processors, wholesalers, and other supply chain participants.
The model examines how purchasing decisions are made and whether local food procurement policies deliver their intended benefits.
Another research effort involves the Environmental Defense Fund and examines whether improving smallholder dairy efficiency in India can reduce climate impacts.
The project focuses on enteric methane emissions produced during cattle digestion and evaluates whether efficiency improvements can reduce overall emissions while benefiting farming families.
Researchers are also investigating potential unintended consequences. More efficient dairy operations could encourage farmers to expand their herds, potentially increasing total methane emissions despite reducing emissions per unit of milk produced.
The study also considers possible benefits, including improved household food security and greater educational opportunities for children.
“The real question is whether a rebound effect exists when you invest in increasing efficiency without a strategic design,” Dillon said. “Do you need to structure the investment in a way that avoids the rebound effect but maintains the human and environmental benefit of the investment itself?”
Through these projects, Dillon emphasizes that sustainable agriculture must account for environmental protection alongside human well-being and food production.
Their research highlights the importance of evaluating entire agricultural systems rather than focusing on individual components.
Photo Credit: jackie-swift
Categories: New York, Education, Livestock