Abstract

AbstractThe aim of the study was to investigate both environmental and economic performances of Luxembourgish dairy farms in order to assess possibilities and limits of improving economic competitiveness via increasing environmental efficiency. In the environmental field, four LCA impact categories (carbon footprint, energy consumption, acidification, eutrophication) were analysed, while in the economic field, costs, incomes and profit of the farms were investigated. A main result was that a sustainable dairy production with less environmental impact in all considered categories is also of advantage in terms of farm competitiveness. The most efficient farms reach also the highest profit. The case study proves that a high environmental performance is not only of advantage in terms of economic competitiveness, but is even a necessary prerequisite for best economic performances.

Highlights

  • The case study was carried out in the frame of the Interreg VA Program of the European Union (Project AUTOPROT)

  • The investigation refers to a sample of 80 Luxembourgish dairy farms supervised in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016

  • The other indicator of protein autarky refers to the performance of animal production to valorise protein fed. This figure takes into account the protein need based on need Tables [2] and considers as valorised the difference between needed and purchased protein

Read more

Summary

Introduction

The case study was carried out in the frame of the Interreg VA Program of the European Union (Project AUTOPROT). This project aims to investigate if and to which extent an increase of protein self-sufficiency (autarky) can lead to a better competitiveness of dairy farms and to a reduction of their environmental impact as well. After the abolition of the milk quota system in the European Union at the end of March 2015, dairy farms were forced more than ever to increase production efficiency as a precondition to improve their own competitiveness. In the frame of this study, a combined environmental and economic analysis of dairy farms was.

Objectives
Methods
Results
Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.