INIA

The evaluation of the carbon footprint in animal production systems based on the use of grazing resources generally provides disappointing results by comparison with managed systems under intensive breeding and feeding practices. Thus, the greenhouse gas emissions per functional unit (litre of milk or kilo of meat) are greatly reduced as production is intensified. However, these evaluations do not reflect the multifunctional role played by low input grazing systems, as they leave out their implications on the conservation of the landscape, the control of bush-like vegetation, the quality of the water, biodiversity, the maintenance of economic activity in the rural environment, generation of quality products, etc. This proposal aims to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ecosystem services (ESs) for systems representative of meat and dairy sheep in different Spanish agro-ecosystems and analyse the impact of various management strategies (feed, grazing, breeding, etc.) and agricultural practices (land use), with special attention on the synergies and commitments (trade-offs) between different environmental objectives. To do this, in vitro methane emissions from different diets representative of these production systems will be evaluated. In addition, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) module will be developed to analyse the environmental impacts of products originating from sheep throughout the production cycle. Subsequently, the LCA model will be incorporated into a dynamic simulation and optimisation programme based on genetic algorithms (PASTOR) Moreover, a generic evaluation framework will be designed for ESs derived from the livestock-raising activity, agricultural and specific management practices for ruminant production systems using focus groups with experts and DELPHI methodology. All of this will allow the evaluation of the consequences of various management strategies and agricultural practices in terms of synergies and trade-offs between objectives of minimising GHG emissions and maximising ESs. The technical and economic aspects will also be taken into account to include the economic and social pillars of sustainability in the analysis.

Main Objective:

To evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ecosystem services (ESs) – biodiversity, landscape, storage of carbon, fire prevention, etc. – for systems representative of meat and dairy sheep in different Spanish agro-ecosystems and analyse the impact of various management strategies (feed, grazing, breeding, etc.) and agricultural practices (land use), with special attention on the synergies and commitments (trade-offs) between different environmental objectives.

Secondary Objectives:

• To analyse the carbon footprint of sheep meat and milk systems through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
• To evaluate in vitro methane emissions from different representative animal feed for dairy and meat sheep.
• To incorporate an LCA module into the PASTOR model of dynamic simulation and optimisation and generalise its design for any sheep system.
To design a generic evaluation framework for ESs derived from the livestock-raising activity, agricultural and specific management practices for ruminant production systems.
To evaluate the consequences of various management strategies and agricultural practices in terms of synergies and trade-offs between objectives of minimising GHG emissions and maximising ESs, also considering the technical and economic aspects.