Projects / Programmes
Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in cattle production
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.02.03 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Animal production |
Ethology and technology in stock-breeding |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B400 |
Biomedical sciences |
Zootechny, animal husbandry, breeding |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.02 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Animal and Dairy science |
Cattle, methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases
Researchers (17)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Cattle production contributes about 65% of total emissions of greenhouse gases in Slovenian agriculture. Recent assessment of agricultural policy showed that present measures are focused mainly in mitigation of emissions in plant production. It was recommended that in future more efforts should be devoted to animal production. The aim of proposed project is a) to elaborate the proposal of measures for mitigation of greenhouse gases in cattle production by taking into account the natural conditions and existing features of animal keeping and b) to elaborate recommendations for cattle breeders, which will cover forage production, rearing practices, animal feeding, storage of animal manures and fertilization practices. Measures and recommendations will be based on analyses of present emissions according to farm structure and rearing practices. The effect of individual measures will be quantified. Besides gases which are monitored in the frame of official inventory (methane and nitrous oxide) the project will focus also in direct and indirect emissions of carbon dioxide which is released due to consumption of fossil fuels (including fossil fuels used for production of mineral fertilizers, pesticides and overseas transport of feedstuffs). Computer tool for the assessment of emissions and effects of measures will be developed in the frame of proposed project.
Significance for science
The project team responded to a call theme that has been highly target-oriented. Target orientation was characteristic also for the project. Accordingly, the importance of the project for the science is relatively small. From the scientific perspective are important, in particular, the contents related to the structure and the specific situation in the Slovenian agriculture. These are the following: - acquisition of specific data on energy consumption and related carbon dioxide emissions associated with rearing cattle in small herds; - the acquisition of specific data on energy consumption and related emissions of carbon dioxide in forage production in conditions of fragmented ownership structure and the use of relatively small farm machinery; - the possibility of introducing biogas installations on small farms; - the evaluation of carbon footprint of cow's milk and beef in a situation, which is characterized by a very large range of production intensity.
Significance for the country
The operational programme for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 states that the long-term objective in the field of agriculture is controlling of greenhouse gas emissions along with an increase of food self-sufficiency and maintaining the agricultural land area in use. To achieve this goal the emissions per unit of food have to be reduced. The solutions which were proposed in the frame of the project will enable it. This is not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to increase the competitiveness of cattle production (better utilization of feed resources, lower consumption of fossil fuels, decreased nitrogen losses, gaining energy from renewable sources in the case of biogas production from animal manures). The proposed solutions are beneficial also in terms of emissions of gases, which are handled by the Clean Air for Europe initiative and commitment that will be defined in a new NEC Directive (ammonia, NOX, methane as a gas, which causes an increase in concentrations of ground-level ozone). Results of the project are important for: - reducing greenhouse gas emissions in cattle production, increasing the competitiveness of the sector and maintaining/improving the reputation of milk and beef (smaller carbon footprint); - facilitating the planning of agricultural/environmental policy in the area of mitigation of climate change; - more reliable reporting on greenhouse gas emissions and emissions of other gases under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and under the UNECE Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution; - higher reliability of emission projections and to support decision making on acceptance/unacceptance of proposed obligations within international protocols.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2013,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2012,
2013,
final report
