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TECHNICAL REPORTS

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Conventional, Agri-Environmental Scheme, and Organic Irish Suckler-Beef Units

Department of Biosystems Engineering (Bioresources Modelling Group), University College Dublin, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, Ireland

^* Corresponding author (john.casey{at}ucd.ie)

Received for publication April 11, 2005. The problems of overproduction within the European Union countries and the environmental impact of agriculture have lead to the introduction of schemes that aim to reduce both. Beef (Bos taurus) production forms a large component of the Irish agricultural industry and accounts for more than one quarter of agricultural economic output. Recently, the European CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) has been re-evaluated to include supplementary measures that encompass the environmental role of agriculture rather than just the production role. A life cycle assessment (LCA) method was adopted to estimate emissions per kilogram of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of live weight (LW) leaving the farm gate per annum (kg CO₂ kg^–1 LW yr^–1) and per hectare (kg CO₂ ha^–1 yr^–1). Fifteen units engaged in suckler-beef production (five conventional, five in an Irish agri-environmental scheme, and five organic units) were evaluated for emissions per unit product and area. The average emissions from the conventional units were 13.0 kg CO₂ kg^–1 LW yr^–1, from the agri-environmental scheme units 12.2 kg CO₂ kg^–1 LW yr^–1, and from the organic units 11.1 kg CO₂ kg LW yr^–1. The average emissions per unit area from the conventional units was 5346 kg CO₂ ha^–1 yr^–1, from the agri-environmental scheme units 4372 kg CO₂ ha^–1 yr^–1, and from the organic units 2302 kg CO₂ ha^–1 yr^–1. Results indicated that moving toward extensive production could reduce emissions per unit product and area but live weight production per hectare would be reduced.

Abbreviations: AES, agri-environmental scheme • CAP, Common Agricultural Policy • EF, emission factor • EU, European Union • FU, functional unit • GHG, greenhouse gas • ISO, International Standards Organisation • LCA, life cycle assessment • LW, live weight • REPS, rural environment protection scheme • TGE, total greenhouse gas emissions • TMR, total mixed ration

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