scholarly journals Developing farm-level sustainability indicators for Ireland using the Teagasc National Farm Survey

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ryan ◽  
T. Hennessy ◽  
C. Buckley ◽  
E.J. Dillon ◽  
T. Donnellan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Farm Survey ◽  
Farm Sustainability ◽  
On Farm

Abstract In the context of an expanding, export-dependent agri-food sector, indicators of sustainable development and intensification are necessary to measure, assess and verify the comparative advantage afforded by Ireland’s natural pastoral-based food production systems. Such indicators are also necessary to ensure that we produce more food with less adverse impacts on the Irish environment, climate and society. This article outlines the development of farm-level indicators that refect the multifaceted nature of sustainability, which is encompassed in economic, environmental and social indicators. The role of innovation in farm sustainability was also examined. A comparison of indicators across Irish farm systems showed that dairy farms, followed by tillage farms, tended to be the most economically and socially sustainable farm systems. In relation to greenhouse gas emissions in particular, the top-performing dairy farms, in an economic sense, also tended to be the best-performing farms from an environmental sustainability perspective. This trend was also evident in relation to the adoption of innovative practices on farm, which was found to be strongly correlated with economic performance.

scholarly journals A partial life cycle assessment approach to evaluate the energy intensity and related greenhouse gas emission in dairy farms

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (2s) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lelia Murgia ◽  
Giuseppe Todde ◽  
Maria Caria ◽  
Antonio Pazzona
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Feeding Management

Dairy farming is constantly evolving towards more intensive levels of mechanization and automation which demand more energy consumption and result in higher economic and environmental costs. The usage of fossil energy in agricultural processes contributes to climate change both with on-farm emissions from the combustion of fuels, and by off-farm emissions due to the use of grid power. As a consequence, a more efficient use of fossil resources together with an increased use of renewable energies can play a key role for the development of more sustainable production systems. The aims of this study were to evaluate the energy requirements (fuels and electricity) in dairy farms, define the distribution of the energy demands among the different farm operations, identify the critical point of the process and estimate the amount of CO2 associated with the energy consumption. The inventory of the energy uses has been outlined by a partial Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, setting the system boundaries at the farm level, from cradle to farm gate. All the flows of materials and energy associated to milk production process, including crops cultivation for fodder production, were investigated in 20 dairy commercial farms over a period of one year. Self-produced energy from renewable sources was also accounted as it influence the overall balance of emissions. Data analysis was focused on the calculation of energy and environmental sustainability indicators (EUI, CO2-eq) referred to the functional units. The production of 1 kg of Fat and Protein Corrected Milk (FPCM) required on average 0.044 kWhel and 0.251 kWhth, corresponding to a total emission of 0.085 kg CO2-eq). The farm activities that contribute most to the electricity requirements were milk cooling, milking and slurry management, while feeding management and crop cultivation were the greatest diesel fuel consuming operation and the largest in terms of environmental impact of milk production (73% of energy CO2-eq emissions). The results of the study can assist in the development of dairy farming models based on a more efficient and profitable use of the energy resources.

Using reference values to assess environmental sustainability of dairy farms

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Acosta-Alba ◽  
M.S. Corson ◽  
H.M.G. van der Werf ◽  
P. Leterme
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Reference Values ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Impact Category ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable

AbstractOne challenge for the environmental assessment of agricultural systems is to progress from estimating whether one farming system has fewer impacts than another to estimating whether or not it can be considered environmentally sustainable. To this end, we developed reference values (RVs) of farm emissions or energy use per hectare that defined hypothetical sustainability thresholds in each of three impact categories: climate change, water-quality degradation and non-renewable energy use. We applied one RV per category to the potential impacts (estimated by life-cycle assessment) of 45 French dairy farms to identify farms below RVs in each impact category and then evaluated their management and production characteristics. Seventeen of the 45 farms lie below at least one of the three RVs. Groups of farms below RVs had a higher percentage of organic farms, larger mean usable agricultural area, longer mean pasture residence time and lower mean inputs of concentrate feed and nitrogen than those above the same RVs. In consequence, the groups below RVs also tended to have lower mean milk production per cow and per hectare. All milk production systems can move toward environmental sustainability even though, according to production mode and intensity, some potential impacts are easier to reduce than others. Most farms were unable to attain the lowest RVs, suggesting that policy-makers may need to consider less ambitious RVs for existing agricultural systems. Otherwise, the distance between normative RVs and indicator values of dairy farms suggest that production and consumption of agricultural products will need to change if sustainability goals do not.

scholarly journals Measuring and Modelling Farm Level Sustainability

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Majewski
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Farming System ◽  
The State ◽  
Social Effects ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Sustainability Index ◽  
Farm Sustainability

AbstractIn the paper, an approach to measure farm level sustainability with the Synthetic Farm Sustainability Index (SFSI) is presented. SFSI is composed of five partial sustainability indexes based on 56 parameters describing different aspects of farms organization and functioning. The index, calculated for the sample of 120 Polish farms, was used to measure the state (static sustainability) and effects of possible improvements (dynamic sustainability) in the farming system. The results of the analyses show significant differences in the sustainability level between the farms in the sample, as well as the potential for increasing SFS. The increase of the synthetic sustainability index can be achieved by means of farm investments, but also low-cost activities that improve environmental performance and generate positive social effects without undermining economic viability. It was also found out, that larger size, intensive farms can achieve high economic and environmental sustainability level if properly managed.

scholarly journals Systematic Mapping of Research on Farm-Level Sustainability in Egg and Chicken Meat Production

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 3033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Gunnarsson ◽  
Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist ◽  
Lina Göransson ◽  
Helena Hansson ◽  
Ulf Sonesson
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Chicken Meat ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Systematic Mapping ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Chicken Population ◽  
On Farm

The sustainability of future poultry production needs to be improved in order to meet global challenges. The global chicken population has expanded significantly in recent decades, due to increased human demand for eggs and chicken meat. Therefore, it is critically important to mitigate challenges to the sustainability of modern poultry production, such as pollution, the depletion of finite natural resources and animal welfare issues. This study systematically mapped the scientific literature on farm-level sustainability in egg and chicken meat production. The concept of sustainability was considered holistically, covering its economic, environmental and social dimensions, each consisting of a broad range of different aspects that may contradict or reinforce each other. The literature published between January 2000 and March 2020 with a geographical focus on Europe, North America and Australia–New Zealand, were included. The literature search resulted in a total of 428 hits, but after the exclusion of articles that did not match the scope of the study, only 26 papers remained for the systematic mapping. Of these, only three papers covered all three dimensions of sustainability. Aspects of economic sustainability were addressed in 10 papers, aspects of environmental sustainability in 18 papers, and aspects of social sustainability in 23 papers. The findings in this study are an important foundation for the discussion and prioritisation of future actions to increase knowledge of farm-level sustainability in egg and chicken meat production.

scholarly journals Systematic Mapping of Research on Farm-Level Sustainability in Finfish Aquaculture

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 9985
Author(s):  
Stefan Gunnarsson ◽  
Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist ◽  
Torun Wallgren ◽  
Per Hjelmstedt ◽  
Ulf Sonesson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Systematic Mapping ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Finfish Aquaculture ◽  
Aquaculture Production

The sustainability of future finfish aquaculture needs to be improved to meet global environmental challenges. Global fish aquaculture production has expanded significantly recently, due to the increased demand for fish for human consumption. Therefore, it is important to mitigate challenges to the sustainability of the sector, such as pollution and depletion of natural resources. In this study, we systematically mapped the scientific literature on farm-level sustainability in fish aquaculture. The concept of sustainability was considered holistically, covering its economic, environmental and social dimensions, each consisting of a range of different aspects that may contradict or reinforce each other. Literature published between January 2000 and August 2020 with the geographical focus on Europe, Northern America and Australia–New Zealand was included. The search resulted in a total of 287 hits, but after the exclusion of articles that did not match the scope, only 17 papers remained for the systematic mapping. Of these, five papers covered all three dimensions of sustainability. Economic sustainability was addressed in 10 papers, environmental sustainability in 13 papers and social sustainability in 12 papers. This systematic mapping provides an important foundation for discussions and prioritisations of future actions to increase knowledge on farm-level sustainability in finfish aquaculture.

scholarly journals Improvements to dairy farms for environmental sustainability in Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano production systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1035-1048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Lovarelli ◽  
Luciana Bava ◽  
Maddalena Zucali ◽  
Giuliana D’Imporzano ◽  
Fabrizio Adani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Grana Padano ◽  
Parmigiano Reggiano

scholarly journals A Systematic Mapping of Research on Sustainability Dimensions at Farm-level in Pig Production

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Gunnarsson ◽  
Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist ◽  
Torun Wallgren ◽  
Helena Hansson ◽  
Ulf Sonesson
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Systematic Mapping ◽  
Pig Production ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Standard Template ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
On Farm

We systematically mapped the scientific literature on the sustainability of pig production at farm-level. Sustainability was considered holistically, covering its economic, environmental, and social dimensions, each consisting of a broad range of different aspects that may contradict or reinforce each other. Literature published between January 2000 and March 2020 with a geographical focus on Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand was included. A standard template with predefined keywords was used to summarise aspects of each sustainability dimension covered in identified papers. We found that papers analysing environmental sustainability were more frequent than papers analysing economic or social sustainability. However, there are many different aspects within each dimension of sustainability, hampering comparisons between studies. In addition, each dimension of sustainability has many sides, making it difficult to compare different studies, and different dimensions and aspects may have complex interrelations. Our systematic literature review revealed that these interrelations are not well understood and that possible trade-offs or synergies between different aspects of sustainability dimensions remain unidentified. This systematic mapping of the current literature on farm-level sustainability in pig production can support a more informed discussion on knowledge gaps and help prioritise future research at farm-level to enhance sustainability in pig production.

scholarly journals Flood Impacts on Dairy Farms in the Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Ryan Paulik ◽  
Kate Crowley ◽  
Nicholas A. Cradock-Henry ◽  
Thomas M. Wilson ◽  
Ame McSporran
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Flood Hazard ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Flood Damage ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Response And Recovery ◽  
On Farm

Flood damage assessments provide critical information for flood hazard mitigation under changing climate conditions. Recent efforts to improve and systemise damage assessments have focused primarily on urban environments with few examples for primary industries such as dairy. This paper explores the adverse consequences of flooding on dairy farms in the Bay of Plenty region, New Zealand. Ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie in April 2017 caused prolonged riverine and surface water flooding on over 3500 hectares of dairy farmland. The event provided an opportunity to develop and apply a participatory approach for collecting information about on-farm flood damage, and both response and recovery actions implemented by dairy farmers. Semi-structured interviews and transect walks with farmers revealed a range of direct and indirect damages to production and capital assets, influenced by duration of inundation, silt deposition and seasonality. Results highlight the need to identify on-farm and off-farm asset interdependencies of dairy farm systems to estimate long-term socio-economic consequences at farm-level. Enhancing dairy farm flood resilience in a changing climate will rely on farm-level response and recovery plans, proactively supported by emergency management agencies, farm service suppliers and support agencies.

scholarly journals 83 Evaluation of transmammary-delivered firocoxib and an ethyl chloride spray to mitigate pain associated with processing procedures in piglets

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
Abbie V Viscardi ◽  
Elizabeth Shirtcliff ◽  
Emily Eppler ◽  
Savannah Miller ◽  
Johann Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Ethyl Chloride ◽  
Hair Cortisol ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Tail Docking ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
On Farm

Abstract Piglets raised in commercial production systems in the U.S. undergo painful management procedures, including surgical castration, tail docking and ear notching, without analgesia or anesthesia provision for pain relief. This is a significant animal welfare concern. There is an immediate need to identify the most practical and effective analgesia or anesthesia option for use on-farm. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of 2.0mg/kg firocoxib, administered to the sow and delivered transmammary to her piglets, and a vapocoolant spray (ethyl chloride) to reduce processing pain. Five-day old male and female Yorkshire-cross piglets were used. 2.0mg/kg firocoxib was administered to the sow intramuscularly 7h prior to processing piglets. An ethyl chloride spray was applied to the ears, tail and scrotum of the piglets immediately before ear notching, tail docking and surgical castration, respectively. Piglets were assigned to one of four treatment groups: firocoxib and vapocoolant spray (FV; n=32), firocoxib only (F; n=32), vapocoolant spray only (V; n=32), no treatment (CON; n=32). The observation period was from 24h pre- to 48h post-processing (specific time points = baseline, 0h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 7h, 24h, 30h, 36h, 48h). Preliminary results found piglets displayed significantly more pain-related behaviors at 24h and 30h post-processing than at most other time points (p< 0.05). Piglets had significantly higher cranial temperatures at 7h post-processing than all other time points (p< 0.05). There was a trend in FV and F piglets having a higher cranial temperature at 36h post-processing compared to V and CON piglets (p=0.08). All piglets had significantly higher hair cortisol levels at 4 vs 20-days old (p< .0001); however, there were no significant treatment effects on cranial temperature, hair cortisol or pain behavior, suggesting firocoxib and the ethyl chloride spray were unable to significantly reduce piglet pain post-processing. Further study analysis is needed to confirm these initial findings.

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