Strokenteelt en groenbemesters

Description of SUREVEG project in the Netherlands. Start of the trail

The protein puzzle : the consumption and production of meat, dairy and fish in the European Union

In het rapport 'The protein puzzle. The consumption and production of meat, dairy and fish in the European Union' brengen onderzoekers van het Planbureau voor de Leefomgeving (PBL) in kaart wat de gevolgen van de productie en consumptie van dierlijke eiwitten zijn voor milieu, natuur en gezondheid. Vervolgens schetst het PBL welke opties er in Europees verband zijn om de negatieve effecten te verminderen. Met deze studie verschaft het PBL relevante feiten en cijfers ten behoeve van het debat over eiwitconsumptie, inclusief een indicatie van de onzekerheden daarbij

Quickscan opbrengsten en efficiëntie in de gangbare en biologische akkerbouw, melkveehouderij , varkenshouderij en pluimveehouderij : deelstudie van project ‘Duurzame Eiwitvoorziening’

De centrale onderzoeksvraag van onderhavige studie is als volgt geformuleerd: “Wat zijn de gemiddelde verschillen in gewasopbrengsten en in dierlijke productie (kg per ha per jaar) tussen gangbare en biologische landbouw, en waardoor worden deze verschillen veroorzaakt?” Het blijkt niet eenvoudig te zijn om een zuivere vergelijking te maken, omdat er verschillen zijn in soorten en – variëteiten, in bouwplannen en voorvruchten, in doelstellingen en in bedrijfssystemen tussen biologische en gangbare landbouw. Een vergelijking tussen opbrengsten en efficiëntie van biologische en gangbare landbouw kan daarom gekarakteriseerd worden als een vergelijking tussen appels en peren

The nitrogen footprint of food products in the European Union

Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for plants and animals. Due to large inputs of mineral fertilizer, crop yields and livestock production in Europe have increased markedly over the last century, but as a consequence losses of reactive N to air, soil and water have intensified as well. Two different models (CAPRI and MITERRA) were used to quantify the N flows in agriculture in the European Union (EU27), at country-level and for EU27 agriculture as a whole, differentiated into 12 main food categories. The results showed that the N footprint, defined as the total N losses to the environment per unit of product, varies widely between different food categories, with substantially higher values for livestock products and the highest values for beef (c. 500 g N/kg beef), as compared to vegetable products. The lowest N footprint of c. 2 g N/kg product was calculated for sugar beet, fruits and vegetables, and potatoes. The losses of reactive N were dominated by N leaching and run-off, and ammonia volatilization, with 0·83 and 0·88 due to consumption of livestock products. The N investment factors, defined as the quantity of new reactive N required to produce one unit of N in the product varied between 1·2 kg N/kg N in product for pulses to 15–20 kg N for beef

Nitrogen on the table: the influence of food choices on nitrogen emissions and the European environment

This ENA Special Report has been prepared by the Expert Panel on Nitrogen and Food of the UNECE Task Force on Reactive Nitrogen. It examines nitrogen and other pollution losses from the food system and assesses the potential impacts of alternative diets on emissions of nitrogen to air and water. It then considers the potential impacts on land-use change and associated greenhouse gas emissions. The study finds that reductions in reactive nitrogen emissions associated with decreased intake of meat and dairy products would have substantial benefits, not only within the EU, but also at continental and global scales. The scenarios also match to consumption patterns that are better aligned with international dietary recommendations

Impacts of European livestock production: nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus and greenhouse gas emissions, land-use, water eutrophication and biodiversity

Livestock production systems currently occupy around 28% of the land surface of the European Union (equivalent to 65% of the agricultural land). In conjunction with other human activities, livestock production systems affect water, air and soil quality, global climate and biodiversity, altering the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon. Here, we quantify the contribution of European livestock production to these major impacts. For each environmental effect, the contribution of livestock is expressed as shares of the emitted compounds and land used, as compared to the whole agricultural sector. The results show that the livestock sector contributes significantly to agricultural environmental impacts. This contribution is 78% for terrestrial biodiversity loss, 80% for soil acidification and air pollution (ammonia and nitrogen oxides emissions), 81% for global warming, and 73% for water pollution (both N and P). The agriculture sector itself is one of the major contributors to these environmental impacts, ranging between 12% for global warming and 59% for N water quality impact. Significant progress in mitigating these environmental impacts in Europe will only be possible through a combination of technological measures reducing livestock emissions, improved food choices and reduced food waste of European citizens