project - Research and innovation
Climate change is an affordable challenge for smart livestock farmers
Climate change is an affordable challenge for smart livestock farmers
Objectives
The farming sector is suffering from the impacts of climate change, and at the same time, the sector is also contributing to it, being a source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The LIFE+ AgriClimateChange sought to identify the farming practices that best contribute to mitigating climate change at farm level. In addition, it aimed to demonstrate that agriculture can tackle climate change effectively and that these climate-friendly actions are not necessarily a constraint, but they can be an economic opportunity for farmers.
Hence, promoting farming systems that combat climate change is a powerful strategy to improve climate conditions, to preserve nature and to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
Objectives
N/A
Activities
The project evaluated the energy consumption, GHG emissions and carbon storage of over 120 farms. This helped to identify aspects where these farms could improve their management and, in some cases, to find savings opportunities related to these improvements. After the assessment, action plans were developed for each farm, aiming to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions by between 10 to 40%.
These plans included a list of measures, discussed and agreed with the farmer, that were implemented with the support of the project. The results and lessons obtained through the project led to a range of proposals for action applicable at different scales, ranging from recommendations for EU policy to actions that farmers can take.
Additional comments
This summary is based on the Brochure "Climate Friendly Agriculture". Please note that all publications and results by the project are at the end of the main page. Some of them are available in different languages (usually English, French, German, Italian and/or Spanish).
For the detailed description of each mitigation measure from the farmer`s perspective, including potential benefits, feasibility in terms of complexity or costs, etc. you can check the following publications
- Guidelines-Manual "Measures at farm level to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from EU agriculture"
- Guidelines-Manual "General proposals for the EU to fight against climate change”
Project details
- Main funding source
- Other EU research and development funds
- Project acronym
- AgriClimateChange
- Agricultural sectors
- Livestock (generic)
1 Practice Abstracts
The farming sector is suffering from the impacts of climate change, but it is also contributing to it, being a source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The LIFE+ AgriClimateChange sought to identify the farming practices that best contribute to mitigating climate change at farm level. In addition, it aimed to demonstrate that agriculture can tackle climate change effectively and that these climate friendly actions are not necessarily a constraint, but they can be an economic opportunity for farmers.
Through the assessment of over 120 farms in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, the project designed and implemented a set of measures to reduce the energy consumption and GHG emissions by between 10 to 40%.
For the livestock sector the key recommendations focus on improving the installations and equipment and reducing external feed inputs. For example, investing in insulation of livestock buildings can lead to substantial economic and energy savings (especially when these buildings are heated). Efficient milking parlours with pre milk cooler, vacuum pump or heat recovery from the milk tank can bring similar benefits. Regarding animal feed, the first recommendation is to lower inputs, by maximising grazing for example.This will also help to make best use of the grasslands around the farm. If using concentrates, the main recommendation is to optimise the quantity and type, avoiding waste and going for less energetic concentrates, for example using rapeseed instead of soya. Finally, a solar dryer for fodder will improve the nutritional properties and it will also help to substantially reduce the amount of feedstuff purchased.
Concerning feasibility, some of the measures may require a significant investment, but the economic and energy savings will make them worthwhile in the mid-long term.
Contacts
Project coordinator
-
Fundación Global Nature
Project coordinator