Demonstration and dissemination actions to reduce the carbon footprint in sheep farming

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Small ruminants farming, especially for sheep meat and milk, generates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide) accounting for 7.4% of global GHG emissions (FAO, 2017). Studies reveal that knowledge gaps exist amongst sheep farmers about the use of innovative and best practices to reduce GHG emissions. Yet, sheep farming can also help regulate the climate through carbon storage in grasslands. It is mainly based on grasslands and pasture areas, including marginal, remote areas where sheep grazing is the only possible economic activity and the only way to preserve grasslands. The five countries targeted by the project produce 47% of European sheep meat and 63% of sheep milk.

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of LIFE GREEN SHEEP is to reduce the carbon footprint of sheep meat and milk production by 12%, while ensuring the sustainability of this production, in five EU countries with different characteristics: France, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Spain. To reach this objective, the project partners will promote low-carbon farming practices among stakeholders involved in sheep production (especially farmers and farm advisors), and more precisely:

Carry out a large-scale diagnosis of GHG emissions and carbon storage in sheep production farms;

Demonstrate and disseminate climate-friendly sheep farming practices, and develop national action plans for different production systems;

Assess the sustainability of targeted farms to make sure that the promoted action levers are effective and to avoid possible transfer of pollution; and

Develop a common approach adapted to sheep meat and milk production.

The project contributes to EU climate policy goals, such as the Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050" (COM(2011)112) and to EU agricultural policy, including the Farm to Fork strategy (COM(2020)381). The project also addresses adaptation strategies, ensuring that action plans are consistent with climate change adaptation strategies.

RESULTS

Expected results:

At the end of the project, a decrease in GHG emissions of 30 621 tons CO2 equivalent, representing a 12% abatement on farms;

A diagnosis on GHG emissions and sustainability for over 1 355 demonstration sheep farms and 282 innovative farms (expected to act as leaders), with data stored on a database generating technical, economic and environmental performance results for different production systems in the five targeted EU countries; A mitigation carbon action plan for each of the 282 innovative sheep farms; An evaluation of several innovative mitigation practices applied in sheep farms; An economic and social feasibility analysis for the implementation of a carbon plan at the level of the whole sheep production sector; 22 Green Sheep action plans in France, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Spain, describing the technical mitigation action plans and the advisory strategy to develop at national/European level by production systems to achieve a 12% decrease in GHG emissions; A common methodology for the assessment of the farm carbon footprint and sustainability; and A European network including 143 advisers and 1 637 farmers.