Tom Misselbrook's presentation from the Sustainable Food Trust's meeting: What role for grazing livestock in a world of climate change and diet-related disease?
Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Surface Concentration Measurements from Beef Bedde...LPE Learning Center
This study measured concentrations of ammonia, greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane) from beef cattle manure packs with different bedding materials (corn stover, soybean stover) and temperatures (10°C, 40°C). Higher temperatures increased gas concentrations, and corn stover increased ammonia and methane at 40°C. Gas levels also varied depending on manure pack age. Future work will develop a model to predict emissions and nutrient values from bedded manure systems.
Estimation of Ammonia Emissions from Beef Cattle Feedyards in the Southern Hi...LPE Learning Center
Proceedings available at: http://www.extension.org/67632
Beef cattle are responsible for around 15% of the total anthropogenic ammonia (NH3) emitted in the U.S., and the cattle feeding industry is highly concentrated spatially, with the majority of commercial feedyards located in Texas, Iowa, Kansas,Colorado, and Nebraska (USEPA, 2005; USDA-NASS, 2009). Valid estimates of ammonia (NH3) emissions from beef cattle feedyards are needed to assess the impact of beef production on the environment, to comply with reporting requirements, and to develop reasonable regulatory policies. The processes involved in production and volatilization of NH3 from livestock housing are strongly influenced by environmental conditions and management practices (Fig. 1), which may not be captured by constant emission factors or mathematically-derived empirical models. Among different modeling approaches, process-based models, which track components of interest through biochemical and geochemical reactions as functions of specific conditions (e.g. temperature, wind speed, pH, precipitation, surface heating, animal diet), offer a better approach for predicting NH3 emissions from open-lot animal production systems than emission factors or empirical models. However, while process-based models have been developed to estimate NH3 emissions from dairy barns and other livestock facilities, little work has been conducted to assess their accuracy for large, commercial feedyards in the semi-arid Texas High Plains: the top beef producing region in the United States.
Ammonia – Facing the Challenges in Regulated Agriculture - Mella WaittIES / IAQM
Ammonia emissions from agriculture pose challenges for meeting regulatory targets. The main agricultural sources of ammonia are cattle, poultry, pigs, and fertilizer application. While regulation has achieved reductions from some sectors, expanding regulation risks increasing costs and driving out smaller farmers. Habitat impact assessments of ammonia are complex due to variable emissions and deposition. Reducing ammonia will require better understanding emissions and sources, as well as evidence-based regulatory and advisory measures developed collaboratively between industry and regulators.
Impact on Air Quality and Climate Change: Where the Dairy Industry Stands- Fr...DAIReXNET
The document discusses the impact of the dairy industry on air quality and climate change. It provides background on air quality legislation and regulations in the US, noting that agriculture was initially excluded. It identifies key pollutants of concern from dairy operations and their effects. Priorities for emission control are outlined based on the scale of pollution effects. Research needs are identified to better understand emissions and management practices to reduce them.
Lecture:Organic/Bio waste Life Cycle Assessment case studiesDaniel Sandars
Lecture: The world over we create a lot of bio degradable waste. Many of our traditional methods of dumping these wastes into seas of hole in the ground are closing. We need better and we need to take care of the environment. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a 'systems theory' method that accounts for the environment by taking a cradle to grave view of changed products and processes and accounting for all inputs and outputs across the system boundary. I present case studies and some of the ideas and insights in modelling them and what has been learned about the systems
The document discusses the LIFE BEEF CARBON project which aims to reduce the carbon footprint of beef production in Europe by 15% over 10 years. It presents results from 2000 demonstrative beef farms in 4 countries which showed variability in greenhouse gas emissions depending on production system. Mitigation potential was identified on 170 innovative farms, with techniques including methane capture, improved animal performance, optimized nutrition and manure management, reduced fertilizer use, and increased carbon sequestration. Reductions of 7-18% in the carbon footprint were estimated depending on the technique and production system.
The document discusses greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in Australia. It notes that agriculture accounts for 58% of methane and 81% of nitrous oxide emissions nationally. The two main agricultural emissions are enteric methane from livestock digestion and nitrous oxide from soils. Potential options to reduce these emissions include animal diet modifications, nitrification inhibitors, and breeding programs. However, implementing emissions policies for agriculture poses challenges around measurement, incentives, and impacts on production. Whole-farm systems analysis is needed to assess actual abatement levels and economic impacts of different mitigation strategies.
Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Surface Concentration Measurements from Beef Bedde...LPE Learning Center
This study measured concentrations of ammonia, greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane) from beef cattle manure packs with different bedding materials (corn stover, soybean stover) and temperatures (10°C, 40°C). Higher temperatures increased gas concentrations, and corn stover increased ammonia and methane at 40°C. Gas levels also varied depending on manure pack age. Future work will develop a model to predict emissions and nutrient values from bedded manure systems.
Estimation of Ammonia Emissions from Beef Cattle Feedyards in the Southern Hi...LPE Learning Center
Proceedings available at: http://www.extension.org/67632
Beef cattle are responsible for around 15% of the total anthropogenic ammonia (NH3) emitted in the U.S., and the cattle feeding industry is highly concentrated spatially, with the majority of commercial feedyards located in Texas, Iowa, Kansas,Colorado, and Nebraska (USEPA, 2005; USDA-NASS, 2009). Valid estimates of ammonia (NH3) emissions from beef cattle feedyards are needed to assess the impact of beef production on the environment, to comply with reporting requirements, and to develop reasonable regulatory policies. The processes involved in production and volatilization of NH3 from livestock housing are strongly influenced by environmental conditions and management practices (Fig. 1), which may not be captured by constant emission factors or mathematically-derived empirical models. Among different modeling approaches, process-based models, which track components of interest through biochemical and geochemical reactions as functions of specific conditions (e.g. temperature, wind speed, pH, precipitation, surface heating, animal diet), offer a better approach for predicting NH3 emissions from open-lot animal production systems than emission factors or empirical models. However, while process-based models have been developed to estimate NH3 emissions from dairy barns and other livestock facilities, little work has been conducted to assess their accuracy for large, commercial feedyards in the semi-arid Texas High Plains: the top beef producing region in the United States.
Ammonia – Facing the Challenges in Regulated Agriculture - Mella WaittIES / IAQM
Ammonia emissions from agriculture pose challenges for meeting regulatory targets. The main agricultural sources of ammonia are cattle, poultry, pigs, and fertilizer application. While regulation has achieved reductions from some sectors, expanding regulation risks increasing costs and driving out smaller farmers. Habitat impact assessments of ammonia are complex due to variable emissions and deposition. Reducing ammonia will require better understanding emissions and sources, as well as evidence-based regulatory and advisory measures developed collaboratively between industry and regulators.
Impact on Air Quality and Climate Change: Where the Dairy Industry Stands- Fr...DAIReXNET
The document discusses the impact of the dairy industry on air quality and climate change. It provides background on air quality legislation and regulations in the US, noting that agriculture was initially excluded. It identifies key pollutants of concern from dairy operations and their effects. Priorities for emission control are outlined based on the scale of pollution effects. Research needs are identified to better understand emissions and management practices to reduce them.
Lecture:Organic/Bio waste Life Cycle Assessment case studiesDaniel Sandars
Lecture: The world over we create a lot of bio degradable waste. Many of our traditional methods of dumping these wastes into seas of hole in the ground are closing. We need better and we need to take care of the environment. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a 'systems theory' method that accounts for the environment by taking a cradle to grave view of changed products and processes and accounting for all inputs and outputs across the system boundary. I present case studies and some of the ideas and insights in modelling them and what has been learned about the systems
The document discusses the LIFE BEEF CARBON project which aims to reduce the carbon footprint of beef production in Europe by 15% over 10 years. It presents results from 2000 demonstrative beef farms in 4 countries which showed variability in greenhouse gas emissions depending on production system. Mitigation potential was identified on 170 innovative farms, with techniques including methane capture, improved animal performance, optimized nutrition and manure management, reduced fertilizer use, and increased carbon sequestration. Reductions of 7-18% in the carbon footprint were estimated depending on the technique and production system.
The document discusses greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in Australia. It notes that agriculture accounts for 58% of methane and 81% of nitrous oxide emissions nationally. The two main agricultural emissions are enteric methane from livestock digestion and nitrous oxide from soils. Potential options to reduce these emissions include animal diet modifications, nitrification inhibitors, and breeding programs. However, implementing emissions policies for agriculture poses challenges around measurement, incentives, and impacts on production. Whole-farm systems analysis is needed to assess actual abatement levels and economic impacts of different mitigation strategies.
This document summarizes climate change impacts and mitigation efforts in South Africa. It finds that key sectors like water, agriculture, and biodiversity face risks from climate change. South Africa's greenhouse gas emissions increased 29% from 2000 to 2010. The country has developed options to reduce emissions in sectors like energy, transport, and waste. These include policies like a carbon tax, with revenue used to support energy efficiency and a just transition. Overall the mitigation options could significantly reduce South Africa's emissions from projected levels by 2025 if fully implemented.
Digestate from anaerobic digestion plants is currently a costly waste problem due to regulations around spreading it on fields and risks of runoff. ADFerTech has developed a patent-pending process to turn digestate into organic fertilizer and clean water. Their system removes up to 90% of contaminants like COD, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to produce a slow-release organic fertilizer granule and water that is easily disposed. This process could save AD plants money while providing a valuable agricultural product, addressing a major issue in the industry.
This document discusses challenges and opportunities for reducing nitrogen emissions. It notes that nitrogen flows are interlinked, presenting both challenges in avoiding pollution swapping, but also opportunities for synergistic reductions. Agriculture accounts for most nitrogen pollution, especially livestock farming. The document outlines seven key actions for better nitrogen management, including improving efficiency in crop and animal production, waste water treatment, consumption patterns, and others. It advocates that more efficient nitrogen use can save farmers money while reducing air and water pollution.
Dr. Gregory Thoma - Pork’s Carbon FootprintJohn Blue
Pork’s Carbon Footprint - Dr. Gregory Thoma, professor, agriculture chemical engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, from the Minnesota Pork Congress, January 20-21, 2010, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
This document provides benchmarks for resource efficiency in the chemical industry. It defines resource efficiency and material, energy, work and plant efficiency. It gives examples of benchmarks for material, energy and pollution intensity for various chemical subsectors. It also provides benchmarks for chemical consumption and waste production for specific chemical processes like polystyrene and unsaturated polyester production. The document introduces best available techniques reference documents from the European Union that provide information on techniques and performance levels for improving resource efficiency in different chemical industry sectors.
This document discusses various industrial sources of air pollution and their impacts. It focuses on coal-fired power plants, detailing the types of pollutants they emit like NOx, SO2, mercury and particulate matter. These pollutants can travel long distances and cause significant health and environmental effects. Emission standards for coal plants are compared across countries like the US, India, Thailand and Mongolia. Low emission technologies and the increased adoption of renewable energy sources are presented as ways to mitigate pollution from coal combustion.
The document discusses developing guidance for tier II measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of livestock greenhouse gas emissions at the provincial level in China. It outlines objectives to create practical MRV guidance, build capacity, and test implementation. Key points include: livestock are a major emissions source in China; accurate MRV is important to track mitigation actions; and the guidance will focus on dairy cattle and pigs in Hebei province. It will define tier II methods, collect farm data, calculate emission factors, and provide reporting templates for provinces to estimate emissions.
The document discusses emerging technologies and solutions for mitigating agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, noting that while increasing productivity through best practices can help, more is needed to meet global goals, and recommends further developing technologies like nitrification inhibitors, low-methane feeds and breeding, as well as addressing challenges to adoption, measurement, and building capacity.
The document summarizes the results and objectives of the LIFE BEEF CARBON project, which aimed to reduce the carbon footprint of beef production in Europe by 15% over 10 years. Key findings include:
- Assessment of 2000 farms found variability in GHG emissions within production systems and identified opportunities to improve technical performance and lower emissions.
- 170 innovative farms developed carbon action plans and achieved an average 13% reduction in emissions through practices like improving herd management, feed efficiency, manure management, and fertilizer use.
- Over 40 mitigation techniques were identified targeting sources like enteric fermentation, manure, feed, and fertilizer. Common practices included increasing productivity, optimizing grazing,
This document provides an overview of a presentation given by Prof. Sandra Esteves at the UK AD & Biogas Tradeshow on 6-7 July 2016 in Birmingham. The presentation discussed the University of South Wales team's expertise in anaerobic digestion processes, including experience, laboratory facilities, and research projects. Specific topics covered in the presentation included optimizing the AD process, effects of trace elements and recovered micronutrients on VFA production, and ammonia removal techniques to enhance methane production.
Measures are available to further reduce air pollution in the EU in a cost-effective way. These measures could reduce premature deaths by 60-70 million years and protect biodiversity in 95,000 km^2 of protected areas. Key areas for additional reductions include industrial process emissions, domestic biomass stoves, agricultural waste burning, and fertilizer application. Many of these measures have higher health benefits than costs.
Agricultural ammonia emission mitigation: principles and practices - Jeremy W...IES / IAQM
Agriculture emits around 87% of ammonia emissions in the UK. Ammonia emissions matter because the UK has agreed limits under the Gothenburg Protocol and reports emissions annually. Several principles govern ammonia emission and mitigation from agricultural sources such as cattle, pigs, and fertilizer application. These include the ammoniacal nitrogen content of manures, their exposure to air during housing and spreading, and the pH level. Reducing air exposure through housing improvements, spreading techniques, and filters can lower emissions, as can adjusting pH levels and replacing urea fertilizer. However, uptake of mitigation actions depends on costs and practical considerations for farmers.
Pekka Huhtanen, SLU: Dietary and animal factors influencing methane productio...Valio
1) The document discusses factors that influence methane production in dairy cows, including dietary factors like intake level, carbohydrate source, and fat content, as well as animal factors like rumen microbiome and physiology.
2) Methane production is related to rumen fermentation patterns and hydrogen sinks. Increased concentrate feeding can decrease methane yield but also decreases digestibility.
3) Between-cow variation in methane production is relatively low, below 15%, and seems to be associated more with animal physiology than differences in rumen microbiome. Digestibility is linked to methane yield, so selecting low methane emitters may not maintain digestibility.
This document discusses improving resource efficiency to address climate change through closing material loops. It provides examples from nature, such as how trees reuse all biomass through decomposition, to achieve near 100% mass recovery. The document then analyzes applying these principles to plastics by using microwave pyrolysis to decompose plastics into original monomers like styrene, achieving 75-85% monomer yields. A life cycle assessment shows this distributed pyrolysis approach could reduce emissions by 0.4-1.75 tons per ton of plastics processed compared to landfilling.
Improving the sustainability of livestock systems in IrelandIrishFarmers
This document discusses strategies for improving the sustainability of livestock systems in Ireland. It addresses reducing greenhouse gas emissions from enteric fermentation, feed additives, genetics, manure management, soil carbon sequestration, and on-farm practices. The document provides data on current emission factors and modeling, the potential of various technologies and practices to reduce emissions, and the need to achieve climate neutrality in agriculture by 2050 through additional solutions beyond 2030.
Presentation builds onto National Discussions on Priority Adaptation and Mitigation Actions for Agriculture in the National Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2017
More information: http://ccafs.cgiar.org/national-adaptation-planning-event-agriculture#.UhcfJD-LKdk
The group is researching alternative clean energy solutions from poultry waste through anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. Biogas is composed primarily of methane and can be used as fuel. The digestion process occurs in a digester where bacteria break down organic waste into methane and fertilizer over 20-30 days. A real example farm with 50,000 birds estimates constructing a 27ft diameter digester tank to process over 100,000 gallons of manure and water daily. While the process requires safety precautions and upfront costs, it provides renewable energy and economic benefits while improving waste management and public health.
The document discusses the benefits of exercise for mental health. Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and cognitive functioning. Exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that may help protect against mental illness and improve symptoms.
1) Methane emissions do not need to reach zero to stop additional global warming, as methane does not accumulate in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide.
2) The impact of methane emissions on temperature depends on both cumulative emissions and annual emission rates, unlike carbon dioxide where only cumulative emissions matter.
3) Treating methane and carbon dioxide as equivalent based solely on their 100-year global warming potential fails to capture their different impacts on temperature over time. Factoring in annual emission rates provides a better comparison.
More Related Content
Similar to Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions – who emits more? - Tom Misselbrook
This document summarizes climate change impacts and mitigation efforts in South Africa. It finds that key sectors like water, agriculture, and biodiversity face risks from climate change. South Africa's greenhouse gas emissions increased 29% from 2000 to 2010. The country has developed options to reduce emissions in sectors like energy, transport, and waste. These include policies like a carbon tax, with revenue used to support energy efficiency and a just transition. Overall the mitigation options could significantly reduce South Africa's emissions from projected levels by 2025 if fully implemented.
Digestate from anaerobic digestion plants is currently a costly waste problem due to regulations around spreading it on fields and risks of runoff. ADFerTech has developed a patent-pending process to turn digestate into organic fertilizer and clean water. Their system removes up to 90% of contaminants like COD, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to produce a slow-release organic fertilizer granule and water that is easily disposed. This process could save AD plants money while providing a valuable agricultural product, addressing a major issue in the industry.
This document discusses challenges and opportunities for reducing nitrogen emissions. It notes that nitrogen flows are interlinked, presenting both challenges in avoiding pollution swapping, but also opportunities for synergistic reductions. Agriculture accounts for most nitrogen pollution, especially livestock farming. The document outlines seven key actions for better nitrogen management, including improving efficiency in crop and animal production, waste water treatment, consumption patterns, and others. It advocates that more efficient nitrogen use can save farmers money while reducing air and water pollution.
Dr. Gregory Thoma - Pork’s Carbon FootprintJohn Blue
Pork’s Carbon Footprint - Dr. Gregory Thoma, professor, agriculture chemical engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, from the Minnesota Pork Congress, January 20-21, 2010, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
This document provides benchmarks for resource efficiency in the chemical industry. It defines resource efficiency and material, energy, work and plant efficiency. It gives examples of benchmarks for material, energy and pollution intensity for various chemical subsectors. It also provides benchmarks for chemical consumption and waste production for specific chemical processes like polystyrene and unsaturated polyester production. The document introduces best available techniques reference documents from the European Union that provide information on techniques and performance levels for improving resource efficiency in different chemical industry sectors.
This document discusses various industrial sources of air pollution and their impacts. It focuses on coal-fired power plants, detailing the types of pollutants they emit like NOx, SO2, mercury and particulate matter. These pollutants can travel long distances and cause significant health and environmental effects. Emission standards for coal plants are compared across countries like the US, India, Thailand and Mongolia. Low emission technologies and the increased adoption of renewable energy sources are presented as ways to mitigate pollution from coal combustion.
The document discusses developing guidance for tier II measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of livestock greenhouse gas emissions at the provincial level in China. It outlines objectives to create practical MRV guidance, build capacity, and test implementation. Key points include: livestock are a major emissions source in China; accurate MRV is important to track mitigation actions; and the guidance will focus on dairy cattle and pigs in Hebei province. It will define tier II methods, collect farm data, calculate emission factors, and provide reporting templates for provinces to estimate emissions.
The document discusses emerging technologies and solutions for mitigating agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, noting that while increasing productivity through best practices can help, more is needed to meet global goals, and recommends further developing technologies like nitrification inhibitors, low-methane feeds and breeding, as well as addressing challenges to adoption, measurement, and building capacity.
The document summarizes the results and objectives of the LIFE BEEF CARBON project, which aimed to reduce the carbon footprint of beef production in Europe by 15% over 10 years. Key findings include:
- Assessment of 2000 farms found variability in GHG emissions within production systems and identified opportunities to improve technical performance and lower emissions.
- 170 innovative farms developed carbon action plans and achieved an average 13% reduction in emissions through practices like improving herd management, feed efficiency, manure management, and fertilizer use.
- Over 40 mitigation techniques were identified targeting sources like enteric fermentation, manure, feed, and fertilizer. Common practices included increasing productivity, optimizing grazing,
This document provides an overview of a presentation given by Prof. Sandra Esteves at the UK AD & Biogas Tradeshow on 6-7 July 2016 in Birmingham. The presentation discussed the University of South Wales team's expertise in anaerobic digestion processes, including experience, laboratory facilities, and research projects. Specific topics covered in the presentation included optimizing the AD process, effects of trace elements and recovered micronutrients on VFA production, and ammonia removal techniques to enhance methane production.
Measures are available to further reduce air pollution in the EU in a cost-effective way. These measures could reduce premature deaths by 60-70 million years and protect biodiversity in 95,000 km^2 of protected areas. Key areas for additional reductions include industrial process emissions, domestic biomass stoves, agricultural waste burning, and fertilizer application. Many of these measures have higher health benefits than costs.
Agricultural ammonia emission mitigation: principles and practices - Jeremy W...IES / IAQM
Agriculture emits around 87% of ammonia emissions in the UK. Ammonia emissions matter because the UK has agreed limits under the Gothenburg Protocol and reports emissions annually. Several principles govern ammonia emission and mitigation from agricultural sources such as cattle, pigs, and fertilizer application. These include the ammoniacal nitrogen content of manures, their exposure to air during housing and spreading, and the pH level. Reducing air exposure through housing improvements, spreading techniques, and filters can lower emissions, as can adjusting pH levels and replacing urea fertilizer. However, uptake of mitigation actions depends on costs and practical considerations for farmers.
Pekka Huhtanen, SLU: Dietary and animal factors influencing methane productio...Valio
1) The document discusses factors that influence methane production in dairy cows, including dietary factors like intake level, carbohydrate source, and fat content, as well as animal factors like rumen microbiome and physiology.
2) Methane production is related to rumen fermentation patterns and hydrogen sinks. Increased concentrate feeding can decrease methane yield but also decreases digestibility.
3) Between-cow variation in methane production is relatively low, below 15%, and seems to be associated more with animal physiology than differences in rumen microbiome. Digestibility is linked to methane yield, so selecting low methane emitters may not maintain digestibility.
This document discusses improving resource efficiency to address climate change through closing material loops. It provides examples from nature, such as how trees reuse all biomass through decomposition, to achieve near 100% mass recovery. The document then analyzes applying these principles to plastics by using microwave pyrolysis to decompose plastics into original monomers like styrene, achieving 75-85% monomer yields. A life cycle assessment shows this distributed pyrolysis approach could reduce emissions by 0.4-1.75 tons per ton of plastics processed compared to landfilling.
Improving the sustainability of livestock systems in IrelandIrishFarmers
This document discusses strategies for improving the sustainability of livestock systems in Ireland. It addresses reducing greenhouse gas emissions from enteric fermentation, feed additives, genetics, manure management, soil carbon sequestration, and on-farm practices. The document provides data on current emission factors and modeling, the potential of various technologies and practices to reduce emissions, and the need to achieve climate neutrality in agriculture by 2050 through additional solutions beyond 2030.
Presentation builds onto National Discussions on Priority Adaptation and Mitigation Actions for Agriculture in the National Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2017
More information: http://ccafs.cgiar.org/national-adaptation-planning-event-agriculture#.UhcfJD-LKdk
The group is researching alternative clean energy solutions from poultry waste through anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. Biogas is composed primarily of methane and can be used as fuel. The digestion process occurs in a digester where bacteria break down organic waste into methane and fertilizer over 20-30 days. A real example farm with 50,000 birds estimates constructing a 27ft diameter digester tank to process over 100,000 gallons of manure and water daily. While the process requires safety precautions and upfront costs, it provides renewable energy and economic benefits while improving waste management and public health.
Similar to Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions – who emits more? - Tom Misselbrook (20)
The document discusses the benefits of exercise for mental health. Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and cognitive functioning. Exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that may help protect against mental illness and improve symptoms.
1) Methane emissions do not need to reach zero to stop additional global warming, as methane does not accumulate in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide.
2) The impact of methane emissions on temperature depends on both cumulative emissions and annual emission rates, unlike carbon dioxide where only cumulative emissions matter.
3) Treating methane and carbon dioxide as equivalent based solely on their 100-year global warming potential fails to capture their different impacts on temperature over time. Factoring in annual emission rates provides a better comparison.
This document is a list of 6 papers written by Dieter Helm between 2015-2017 on various topics related to natural capital and the environment. The papers include topics such as waste policy, flood defence, green bonds, agricultural policy after Brexit, catchment management and abstraction, and defending the green belt. All papers were published as part of Dieter Helm's Natural Capital Network.
This document discusses the United Kingdom's goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and how the agricultural industry can help meet that target. It outlines strategies for agriculture to become more efficient and sustainable, such as improving soil health, using new farming practices, and deploying technologies that increase productivity while reducing environmental impact. The document also presents the specific plans and initiatives one farm, Barford Park, is taking to reach net zero emissions by changing its practices around livestock, manure, and renewable energy.
This document discusses the threats of climate change and extinction. It notes that a Permian-Triassic extinction event was caused by runaway climate change and methane releases, wiping out 97% of life. It warns that 1°C of warming will reduce economic growth by 1% and crop yields by 10%, and that at 2.5°C the world will not be able to produce enough calories to feed the population. Experts say societal collapse is inevitable and human extinction is possible if climate change is not addressed. Extinction Rebellion was launched in 2018 to truthfully address the climate crisis through non-violent civil disobedience and demand net-zero emissions by 2025.
The document discusses regenerative agriculture as a solution to the environmental damage caused by industrial agriculture. It summarizes the history of agriculture as a series of transformations that increased productivity but also caused environmental degradation. Regenerative practices like holistic grazing management, cover cropping, and permaculture can help repair landscapes by restoring healthy soil, water cycles, and biodiversity. This represents an eighth transformation to a more sustainable model of agriculture.
This document discusses sustainable agriculture and the role of livestock in food security. It presents several metrics for comparing the sustainability of different livestock production systems and meat types, including their nutritional quality, greenhouse gas emissions, arable land use, and impacts on soil health. Several key points are made: (1) Grass-fed beef production provides meat with higher nutritional quality than concentrate-fed beef in some metrics; (2) Accounting for nutritional quality can change the rankings of production systems based on metrics like greenhouse gas emissions; (3) Different livestock have varying impacts on metrics like arable land use and nutrient provision per unit of land. The document advocates developing nuanced, "fit-for-purpose" metrics to properly evaluate livestock's
This document discusses the history of dietary recommendations to reduce saturated fat and consume more vegetable oils. It notes that in the early 20th century, consumers were encouraged to switch from animal fats to vegetable oils and saturated to polyunsaturated fats. However, despite these dietary changes, rates of heart disease, obesity and diabetes have increased. The document questions whether vegetable oils are better for health or the environment than animal fats. It summarizes the evidence that linked saturated fat to heart disease and promoted vegetable oils may have been influenced by the sugar industry.
Voters are concerned about the current food system and want changes to make healthy food more affordable and accessible. They support limiting subsidies to large farms and providing incentives for sustainable farming. Messaging framing the goal of the food system as health rather than profit finds widespread agreement across all voter groups. A national survey of 1,000 voters was conducted to understand these views.
The document discusses facts about food waste in the United States. It notes that 40% of food goes uneaten, costing $162-218 billion annually. This waste has serious environmental impacts, equivalent to 141 trillion calories and 8 million New York to San Francisco car trips in greenhouse gas emissions from uneaten turkey over Thanksgiving. Solutions proposed include reforming confusing food date labels, identifying model policies, and educating consumers to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. Individual actions people can take include reducing their own waste.
Americans throw out $218 billion worth of food each year while hunger costs the nation $168 billion. The biggest challenges to food recovery are infrastructure and capacity, sector innovation and cross-sector collaboration, inefficient distribution, and nutritional deficiencies. Key principles for a sustainable food recovery sector include commitment to innovation, increasing capacity and infrastructure before more donations, financially sustainable social enterprises, community-driven solutions, and ensuring high-quality nutritious food while recognizing food alone cannot solve hunger.
This document discusses the benefits of diversifying a farm through integrated crop and livestock systems compared to specialization. It outlines some of the economic and social barriers farmers face in making this transition. Specific examples are provided showing the cost savings and increased production from practices like cover cropping and grazing livestock compared to traditional chemical-dependent systems. The benefits of taking a holistic, long-term approach to the farm as an ecological system are discussed.
The study analyzed health outcomes in populations living in 17 North Carolina counties with concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) housing over 100,000 hogs, compared to populations in 40 counties without hog CAFOs. After adjusting for demographics and socioeconomic factors, the study found higher rates of emergency department visits and hospital admissions in CAFO counties for several diseases, including infectious diseases (30% increase), respiratory diseases (20% increase), hypertension (30% increase), diabetes (70% increase), kidney diseases (30% increase), complications of pregnancy (25% increase), and epilepsy (70% increase). Mortality rates were also higher in CAFO counties for some of these conditions. The results suggest vulnerable populations like children and
The document discusses the benefits of exercise for mental health. Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and cognitive functioning. Exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that may help protect against mental illness and improve symptoms.
Antibiotic use in animal agriculture may be responsible for many resistant human infections, but quantifying this burden is challenging due to lack of data. Key data needed includes detailed antibiotic use patterns in animals, molecular characterization of bacteria from food animals and surrounding environments, and bacteria from human infections. While techniques exist, current monitoring programs are limited and do not systematically collect this information. Expanding data collection through strengthened federal programs could help assign an evidence-based burden from agricultural antibiotic misuse.
Viney P. Aneja's presentation discusses pollution and emissions from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the United States. It notes that ammonia makes up the largest volume of agricultural emissions in the US and contributes to particulate matter formation and nitrogen deposition. The presentation analyzes case studies that show how ammonia emissions can influence exceeding particulate matter air quality standards. It also examines the impacts of ammonia on climate change through increased nitrous oxide and impacts on the nitrogen cycle. The presentation concludes by calling out challenges for regulating ammonia and encouraging mitigation strategies to reduce agricultural emissions.
This document summarizes research on managing grasslands to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. It finds that:
1) Grasslands store large amounts of carbon in soils, and practices like applying livestock manure or compost can significantly increase soil carbon storage for decades or more, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.
2) Managing half of California's grasslands to increase soil carbon by 0.5 metric tons per hectare per year could offset 21 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually.
3) Projects demonstrating increased soil carbon through compost and manure in California grasslands show the potential for agriculture and soil management to meaningfully contribute to climate change mitigation.
The document discusses SFUSD's future dining experience. Over the last ten years, SFUSD has worked to address issues with student dining like food quality, long lines, and outdated cafeteria spaces. This has included a board resolution on feeding hungry children, a wellness policy, and a partnership with Revolution Foods. SFUSD and partners Lowe's and IDEO developed 10 design recommendations and examples of improved cafeterias at several schools.
Improving the viability of probiotics by encapsulation methods for developmen...Open Access Research Paper
The popularity of functional foods among scientists and common people has been increasing day by day. Awareness and modernization make the consumer think better regarding food and nutrition. Now a day’s individual knows very well about the relation between food consumption and disease prevalence. Humans have a diversity of microbes in the gut that together form the gut microflora. Probiotics are the health-promoting live microbial cells improve host health through gut and brain connection and fighting against harmful bacteria. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are the two bacterial genera which are considered to be probiotic. These good bacteria are facing challenges of viability. There are so many factors such as sensitivity to heat, pH, acidity, osmotic effect, mechanical shear, chemical components, freezing and storage time as well which affects the viability of probiotics in the dairy food matrix as well as in the gut. Multiple efforts have been done in the past and ongoing in present for these beneficial microbial population stability until their destination in the gut. One of a useful technique known as microencapsulation makes the probiotic effective in the diversified conditions and maintain these microbe’s community to the optimum level for achieving targeted benefits. Dairy products are found to be an ideal vehicle for probiotic incorporation. It has been seen that the encapsulated microbial cells show higher viability than the free cells in different processing and storage conditions as well as against bile salts in the gut. They make the food functional when incorporated, without affecting the product sensory characteristics.
Optimizing Post Remediation Groundwater Performance with Enhanced Microbiolog...Joshua Orris
Results of geophysics and pneumatic injection pilot tests during 2003 – 2007 yielded significant positive results for injection delivery design and contaminant mass treatment, resulting in permanent shut-down of an existing groundwater Pump & Treat system.
Accessible source areas were subsequently removed (2011) by soil excavation and treated with the placement of Emulsified Vegetable Oil EVO and zero-valent iron ZVI to accelerate treatment of impacted groundwater in overburden and weathered fractured bedrock. Post pilot test and post remediation groundwater monitoring has included analyses of CVOCs, organic fatty acids, dissolved gases and QuantArray® -Chlor to quantify key microorganisms (e.g., Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, etc.) and functional genes (e.g., vinyl chloride reductase, methane monooxygenase, etc.) to assess potential for reductive dechlorination and aerobic cometabolism of CVOCs.
In 2022, the first commercial application of MetaArray™ was performed at the site. MetaArray™ utilizes statistical analysis, such as principal component analysis and multivariate analysis to provide evidence that reductive dechlorination is active or even that it is slowing. This creates actionable data allowing users to save money by making important site management decisions earlier.
The results of the MetaArray™ analysis’ support vector machine (SVM) identified groundwater monitoring wells with a 80% confidence that were characterized as either Limited for Reductive Decholorination or had a High Reductive Reduction Dechlorination potential. The results of MetaArray™ will be used to further optimize the site’s post remediation monitoring program for monitored natural attenuation.
Evolving Lifecycles with High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) and 3-D...Joshua Orris
The incorporation of a 3DCSM and completion of HRSC provided a tool for enhanced, data-driven, decisions to support a change in remediation closure strategies. Currently, an approved pilot study has been obtained to shut-down the remediation systems (ISCO, P&T) and conduct a hydraulic study under non-pumping conditions. A separate micro-biological bench scale treatability study was competed that yielded positive results for an emerging innovative technology. As a result, a field pilot study has commenced with results expected in nine-twelve months. With the results of the hydraulic study, field pilot studies and an updated risk assessment leading site monitoring optimization cost lifecycle savings upwards of $15MM towards an alternatively evolved best available technology remediation closure strategy.
Kinetic studies on malachite green dye adsorption from aqueous solutions by A...Open Access Research Paper
Water polluted by dyestuffs compounds is a global threat to health and the environment; accordingly, we prepared a green novel sorbent chemical and Physical system from an algae, chitosan and chitosan nanoparticle and impregnated with algae with chitosan nanocomposite for the sorption of Malachite green dye from water. The algae with chitosan nanocomposite by a simple method and used as a recyclable and effective adsorbent for the removal of malachite green dye from aqueous solutions. Algae, chitosan, chitosan nanoparticle and algae with chitosan nanocomposite were characterized using different physicochemical methods. The functional groups and chemical compounds found in algae, chitosan, chitosan algae, chitosan nanoparticle, and chitosan nanoparticle with algae were identified using FTIR, SEM, and TGADTA/DTG techniques. The optimal adsorption conditions, different dosages, pH and Temperature the amount of algae with chitosan nanocomposite were determined. At optimized conditions and the batch equilibrium studies more than 99% of the dye was removed. The adsorption process data matched well kinetics showed that the reaction order for dye varied with pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity of the algae with chitosan nanocomposite toward malachite green dye reached as high as 15.5mg/g, respectively. Finally, multiple times reusing of algae with chitosan nanocomposite and removing dye from a real wastewater has made it a promising and attractive option for further practical applications.
Lessons from operationalizing integrated landscape approaches
Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions – who emits more? - Tom Misselbrook
1. Rothamsted Research
where knowledge grows
Rothamsted Research
where knowledge grows
Ammonia and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
– who emits more?
Tom Misselbrook
Rothamsted Research, North Wyke
2. Overview
Sources and impacts – ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane
Current emission estimates
Influence of management practices
Potential mitigations
3. Ammonia - overview
Air quality pollutant
Particulate formation, eutrophication, acidification
Agriculture is major source – c. 90% for UK
NH3 emissions from UK agriculture
5. Ammonia – influence of management
Annual emission per dairy cow
Extended grazing systems will have lower NH3 emissions
BUT … potential for increased N2O and nitrate leaching
How efficiently are manure nutrients used?
6. GHG from agriculture - overview
Nitrous oxide and methane are potent GHG (c. 300 and 25x CO2)
Agriculture accounts for 84% N2O and 44% CH4 in UK
GHG emissions from UK agriculture (CO2e)
7. Enteric methane – influence of management
Production system – large, high yielders vs small, lower yielders
105
110
115
120
125
130
Large, high Medium Small, low
EFkgCH4/head
0
5
10
15
20
25
105
110
115
120
125
130
Large, high Medium Small, low
gCH4/kgmilk
EFkgCH4/head
EF (kg/hd/yr) g/l milk
Based on AC0114 proposed inventory methodology
8. GHG – influence of management
• Diet and body weight – relatively small effect
• Production level has a greater effect
• Other considerations – longevity, fertility, health
110
115
120
125
130
135
140
450 500 550 600 650
EFkgCH4perhead
Live weight
5,000 Milk yield 10,000
25% Concentrate level 75%
13. Summary and conclusions
Cattle farming is a significant source of NH3, N2O and CH4
Ammonia emissions primarily from managed manure
Methane primarily from enteric fermentation
Nitrous oxide primarily from soils
Management practices influence magnitude of emissions – but
potential trade-offs
Mitigation methods exist – particularly for ammonia
Accept that there will always be a variety of production systems
Research to improve nutrient use efficiencies/develop mitigations
within given systems
Particularly for more precision in grazing/grassland-based systems