Name: Ridha Ibidhi
Host Institution: Bangor University
Optimising environmental efficiency of dairy
intensification strategies for delivery of milk and
beef in Costa Rica

Purpose of research
Carbon neutral by 2021
Low productivity
pasture livestock
production
Deforestation
Climate
change
Environmental challenges
Milk production: 11.7% of the added value of the agricultural sector.

Purpose of research
 Calculate the milk footprints for alternative dairy systems and
intensification strategies (conventional and attributional LCA approach).
 Apply CLCA to scenarios of milk production shifting from one type of
dairy system to another, to support conclusions about the respective
efficiency of different dairy intensification strategies.

VAMPP dataset
Veterinary Automated Management and
Production control Program
(18000 farms)
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
(920 farms)
MAG dataset
1. Data Source
Research methods

Research methods
The Dairy and Beef Life Cycle Assessment tool
Key performance indicators:
 Global warming potential:
Kg CO2e: CO2, N2O, CH4
 Eutrophication potential:
Kg PO4e: P & N water, NH3,
NOX
 Acidification potential:
Kg SO2e: NH3, NOX, SO2
 Water use potential (WF):
H2Oe

Research methods
Intensification scenarios:
Assess the overall environmental efficiency of different breeding
strategies to either:
- Minimize lactations
- Maximize number of lactations
- Increase longevity of lactations.
Comparing the environmental footprints of milk using the LCA tool of
animals with:
- Many lactations (7,8,9,10,11)
- Long lactations (12,14,16,17,18 months)

Results
Classification of dairy farms in Costa Rica:
1. Large breed intensive dairy farms (Holstein)
2. Small breed intensive dairy farms (Jersey)
3. Double purpose farms (Bos Indicus)
4. Suckler-beef farms (Braham)
5. Double purpose fattening farms (Bos Indicus)
6. Suckler fattening farms (Braham)

Results
• LCA results: ongoing…..
• Expected results: Identify the most environmental efficient breeding
scenarios: towards a sustainable milk production.
• Identify possibility of shifting from one type of milk production to
another system more efficient environmentally and economically.

Conclusions
 Take advantage from the Bangor experience in consequential-LCA of
dairy systems.
A real application of the LCA tool on the Costa Rican dairy systems
which is the project of a research paper.

Advices to future CLIFF-GRADS students
• Take the maximum advantages from the expertise of the host
researchers in the GHG field (workshops, meeting, reported, support
materials, E-learning courses....).
• Set a networking with other doctoral students and researchers in the
host institution.
• Working in one of the most prestigious research centers on LCA
analysis, being supervised by leading scientists in the subject and
collaborating with them in scientific publications is extremely
important.