Europe's 20 biggest meat and dairy firms produce more greenhouse gases combined than the economy of the Netherlands, according to a report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

The companies created 244 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2018. That compares with 186 million tonnes produced by the entire economy of the Netherlands and 404 million tonnes emitted by French oil giant Total.

The report predicted that even though many of the companies were becoming more efficient, increases in their production would still cause their overall emissions to rise in the coming years.

A press release accompanying the research called for a "serious and systemic regulatory action to transition away from this high emitting and destructive model of industrial agriculture."

It also criticized companies for relying on offsetting emissions, rather than reducing them and relying on unproven technologies such as feed additives that could reduce methane production in the digestive systems of cows.