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van Selm B, van Zanten HHE, Hijbeek R, van Middelaar CE, Schop M, van Ittersum MK, de Boer IJM. Interventions to increase circularity and reduce environmental impacts in food systems. Ambio 2024; 53:359-375. [PMID: 37973704 PMCID: PMC10837400 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01953-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Applying specific circularity interventions to the food system may have environmental benefits. Using an iterative linear food system optimisation model (FOODSOM), we assess how changes in human diets, imports and exports, and the utilisation of waste streams impact land use and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). After including these circularity principles, land use and GHG emissions were on average 40% and 68% lower than in the current food system, primarily driven by a reduction in production volumes and a shift towards feeding the domestic population. Shifting from the current diet to a circular diet decreased land use with 43% and GHG emissions with 52%. Allowing up to half of each nutrient in the human diet to be imported, while balancing imports with equal exports in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, also decreased land use (up to 34%) and GHG emissions (up to 26%) compared to no imported food. Our findings show that circularity interventions should not be implemented mutually exclusively; by combining a circular diet with imported food and fully utilising waste streams, the lowest land use and GHG emissions can be realised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin van Selm
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Hannah H E van Zanten
- Farming Systems Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Renske Hijbeek
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Corina E van Middelaar
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marijke Schop
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- R&D monogastrics, Agrifirm, Landgoedlaan 20, 7325 AW, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
| | - Martin K van Ittersum
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Imke J M de Boer
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Wang Y, de Boer IJM, Persson UM, Ripoll-Bosch R, Cederberg C, Gerber PJ, Smith P, van Middelaar CE. Risk to rely on soil carbon sequestration to offset global ruminant emissions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7625. [PMID: 37993450 PMCID: PMC10665458 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43452-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbon sequestration in grasslands has been proposed as an important means to offset greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant systems. To understand the potential and limitations of this strategy, we need to acknowledge that soil carbon sequestration is a time-limited benefit, and there are intrinsic differences between short- and long-lived greenhouse gases. Here, our analysis shows that one tonne of carbon sequestrated can offset radiative forcing of a continuous emission of 0.99 kg methane or 0.1 kg nitrous oxide per year over 100 years. About 135 gigatonnes of carbon is required to offset the continuous methane and nitrous oxide emissions from ruminant sector worldwide, nearly twice the current global carbon stock in managed grasslands. For various regions, grassland carbon stocks would need to increase by approximately 25% - 2,000%, indicating that solely relying on carbon sequestration in grasslands to offset warming effect of emissions from current ruminant systems is not feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Imke J M de Boer
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - U Martin Persson
- Physical Resource Theory, Department of Space, Earth & Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Raimon Ripoll-Bosch
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Christel Cederberg
- Physical Resource Theory, Department of Space, Earth & Environment, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pierre J Gerber
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC, 20433, USA
| | - Pete Smith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, United Kingdom
| | - Corina E van Middelaar
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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van Selm B, Hijbeek R, van Ittersum MK, van Hal O, van Middelaar CE, de Boer IJM. Recoupling livestock and feed production in the Netherlands to reduce environmental impacts. Sci Total Environ 2023; 899:165540. [PMID: 37467975 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
In many places on earth, livestock and feed production are decoupled, as feed is grown in one region and fed to livestock in another. This disrupts nutrient cycles by depleting resources in feed producing regions and accumulating resources in livestock areas, which leads to environmental degradation. One solution is to recouple livestock and feed production at a more local level, which enhances nutrient circularity. Recoupling livestock and feed production creates a natural ceiling for livestock numbers based on the feed producing capacity of a region. In this study we assess the consequences of recoupling livestock and feed production (i.e., by avoiding the import and export of animal feed) on ammonia and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with and without feed-food competition. To this end, we used FOODSOM, an agro-ecological food system optimisation model representing the Dutch food system in this study. The Netherlands is one example of a region with high livestock densities and resource accumulation. We found that recoupling decreased livestock numbers (beef cattle: -100 %; dairy cattle: -29 %; broiler chickens: -57 %; laying hens: -67 %; pigs: -62 %; sheep -100 %) and animal-sourced food exports (-59 %) while still meeting the current human diet in the Netherlands. Consequently, ammonia emissions and GHG emissions decreased, and the nitrogen use efficiency increased from 31 % to 38 % at the food systems level. Recoupling alone was almost sufficient to meet national emission targets. Fully meeting these targets required further small changes in livestock numbers. Avoiding feed-food competition decreased livestock productivity and GHG emissions but did not improve nitrogen use efficiency. Total meat production could not meet domestic consumption levels while avoiding feed-food competition, and resulted in additional beef cattle. We show that recoupling livestock and feed production is a promising next step to enhance circularity while decreasing agricultures environmental impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin van Selm
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands; Plant Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Renske Hijbeek
- Plant Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martin K van Ittersum
- Plant Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 430, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ollie van Hal
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Corina E van Middelaar
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Imke J M de Boer
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Misra S, van Middelaar CE, Jordan K, Upton J, Quinn AJ, de Boer IJM, O’Driscoll K. Effect of different cleaning procedures on water use and bacterial levels in weaner pig pens. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242495. [PMID: 33201932 PMCID: PMC7671538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pork is one of the most globally eaten meats and the pig production chain contributes significantly to the water footprint of livestock production. However, very little knowledge is available about the on-farm factors that influence freshwater use in the pig production chain. An experiment was conducted to quantify the effect of three different washing treatments on freshwater use, bacterial levels [(total bacterial counts; TBC), Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus] and cleaning time in washing of pens for weaning pigs. Three weaner rooms were selected with each room having 10 pens and a capacity to hold up to 14 pigs each. Pigs were weaned and kept in the pens for 7 weeks. Finally, the pens were cleaned before the next batch of pigs moved in. The washing treatments used were power washing and disinfection (WASH); presoaking followed by power washing and disinfection (SOAK), and presoaking followed by detergent, power washing and disinfection (SOAK + DETER). A water meter was used to collect water use data and swab samples were taken to determine the bacterial levels. The results showed that there was no overall effect of washing treatments on water use. However, there was an effect of treatment on the washing time (p<0.01) with SOAK and SOAK+DETER reducing the washing time per pen by 2.3 minutes (14%) and 4.2 minutes (27%) compared to WASH. Nonetheless, there was an effect of sampling time (before or after washing) (p<0.001) on the levels of TBC and Staphylococcus, but no effect was seen on Enterobacteriaceae levels. Thus, the washing treatments used in this study had no effect on the water use of the pork production chain. Although there was no difference in both water use and bacterial load, from a producer perspective, presoaking and detergent use can save time and labour costs, so this would be the preferred option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpi Misra
- Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Corina E. van Middelaar
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kieran Jordan
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland
| | - John Upton
- Livestock Systems Department, Animal and Grassland Research Innovation Centre, Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland
| | - Amy J. Quinn
- Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland
| | - Imke J. M. de Boer
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Keelin O’Driscoll
- Pig Development Department, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland
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Zahra WA, Middelaar CEV, de Boer IJM, Oosting SJ. Predicting nutrient excretion from dairy cows on smallholder farms in Indonesia using readily available farm data. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 2020; 33:2039-2049. [PMID: 32777889 PMCID: PMC7649398 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.20.0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Objective This study was conducted to provide models to accurately predict nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) excretion of dairy cows on smallholder farms in Indonesia based on readily available farm data. Methods The generic model in this study is based on the principles of the Lucas equation, describing the relation between dry matter intake (DMI) and faecal N excretion to predict the quantity of faecal N (QFN). Excretion of urinary N and faecal P were calculated based on National Research Council recommendations for dairy cows. A farm survey was conducted to collect input parameters for the models. The data set was used to calibrate the model to predict QFN for the specific case. The model was validated by comparing the predicted quantity of faecal N with the actual quantity of faecal N (QFNACT) based on measurements, and the calibrated model was compared to the Lucas equation. The models were used to predict N and P excretion of all 144 dairy cows in the data set. Results Our estimate of true N digestibility equalled the standard value of 92% in the original Lucas equation, whereas our estimate of metabolic faecal N was −0.60 g/100 g DMI, with the standard value being −0.61 g/100 g DMI. Results of the model validation showed that the R2 was 0.63, the MAE was 15 g/animal/d (17% from QFNACT), and the RMSE was 20 g/animal/d (22% from QFNACT). We predicted that the total N excretion of dairy cows in Indonesia was on average 197 g/animal/d, whereas P excretion was on average 56 g/animal/d. Conclusion The proposed models can be used with reasonable accuracy to predict N and P excretion of dairy cattle on smallholder farms in Indonesia, which can contribute to improving manure management and reduce environmental issues related to nutrient losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Windi Al Zahra
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Bogor, West Java 16680, Indonesia
| | - Corina E van Middelaar
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Imke J M de Boer
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon J Oosting
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Klootwijk CW, Holshof G, van den Pol-van Dasselaar A, van Helvoort KL, Engel B, de Boer IJ, van Middelaar CE. The effect of intensive grazing systems on the rising plate meter calibration for perennial ryegrass pastures. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:10439-10450. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-16118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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de Vries M, Zahra WA, Wouters AP, van Middelaar CE, Oosting SJ, Tiesnamurti B, Vellinga TV. Entry Points for Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Small-Scale Dairy Farms: Looking Beyond Milk Yield Increase. Front Sustain Food Syst 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2019.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Kok A, van Middelaar CE, Mostert PF, van Knegsel ATM, Kemp B, de Boer IJM, Hogeveen H. Effects of dry period length on production, cash flows and greenhouse gas emissions of the dairy herd: A dynamic stochastic simulation model. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187101. [PMID: 29077739 PMCID: PMC5659778 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Shortening or omitting the dry period of dairy cows improves metabolic health in early lactation and reduces management transitions for dairy cows. The success of implementation of these strategies depends on their impact on milk yield and farm profitability. Insight in these impacts is valuable for informed decision-making by farmers. The aim of this study was to investigate how shortening or omitting the dry period of dairy cows affects production and cash flows at the herd level, and greenhouse gas emissions per unit of milk, using a dynamic stochastic simulation model. The effects of dry period length on milk yield and calving interval assumed in this model were derived from actual performance of commercial dairy cows over multiple lactations. The model simulated lactations, and calving and culling events of individual cows for herds of 100 cows. Herds were simulated for 5 years with a dry period of 56 (conventional), 28 or 0 days (n = 50 herds each). Partial cash flows were computed from revenues from sold milk, calves, and culled cows, and costs from feed and rearing youngstock. Greenhouse gas emissions were computed using a life cycle approach. A dry period of 28 days reduced milk production of the herd by 3.0% in years 2 through 5, compared with a dry period of 56 days. A dry period of 0 days reduced milk production by 3.5% in years 3 through 5, after a dip in milk production of 6.9% in year 2. On average, dry periods of 28 and 0 days reduced partial cash flows by €1,249 and €1,632 per herd per year, and increased greenhouse gas emissions by 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively. Considering the potential for enhancing cow welfare, these negative impacts of shortening or omitting the dry period seem justifiable, and they might even be offset by improved health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akke Kok
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Adaptation Physiology group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Corina E. van Middelaar
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Pim F. Mostert
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Bas Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Imke J. M. de Boer
- Animal Production Systems group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Henk Hogeveen
- Business Economics group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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