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

Reference: LIFE19 CCM/FR/001245 | Acronym: LIFE GREEN SHEEP

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.
  • ADMINISTRATIVE DATA


    Reference: LIFE19 CCM/FR/001245
    Acronym: LIFE GREEN SHEEP
    Start Date: 01/10/2020
    End Date: 30/12/2026
    Total Eligible Budget: 4,612,220 €
    EU Contribution: 2,536,683 €

    CONTACT DETAILS


    Coordinating Beneficiary: Institut de l'Elevage
    Legal Status: PNC
    Address: 149 rue de Bercy, 75595, Paris,
    Contact Person: Sindy Throude
    Email: Send Email
    Website: Visit Website


    LIFE Project Map

    ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ADDRESSED

    THEMES

    • GHG reduction in non EU ETS sectors
    • Carbon sequestration
    • Life Cycle Assessment-Management
    • Environmental training - Capacity building

    KEYWORDS

    • environmental impact of agriculture
    • Agriculture
    • environmental training
    • carbon sequestration
    • climate action plan
    • climate change mitigation
    • greenhouse gas accounting
    • mitigation measure

    TARGET EU LEGISLATION

    • COM(2013)216 - EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change (16.04.2013)
    • COM(2011)112 - "A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050" (08.03.2011)

    PARTNERSHIPS

    Name Status Type
     ALYSE(ALYSE), France ACTIVE Participant
     ITACyL(Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León), Spain ACTIVE Participant
     UNOTEC(UNION TECHNIQUE ovine), France ACTIVE Participant
     CA 87(Chambre d'Agriculture de Haute-Vienne), France ACTIVE Participant
     FBL(Association France Brebis Laitière), France ACTIVE Participant
     CA 19(Chambre d'Agriculture de la Corrèze), France ACTIVE Participant
     INTERBEV(Association Nationale Interprofessionnelle du Bétail et des Viandes), France ACTIVE Participant
     MRE(Maison Régionale de l'Elevage PACA), France ACTIVE Participant
     Coop de Fr(Coop de France), France ACTIVE Participant
     CA 64(Chambre d'Agriculture des Pyrénées-Atlantiques), France ACTIVE Participant
     ARO NA(ASSOCIATION REGIONALE OVINE DE NOUVELLE AQUITAINE), France ACTIVE Participant
     AURA Elev.(Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Elevage), France ACTIVE Participant
     CGR(CONFEDERATION GENERALE DES PRODUCTEURS DE LAIT DE BREBIS ET DES INDUSTRIELS DE ROQUEFORT), France ACTIVE Participant
     CA 23(Chambre d'Agriculture de la Creuse), France ACTIVE Participant
     Teagasc(Teagasc - Agriculture and Food Development Authority), Ireland ACTIVE Participant
     AGRIS(Agris Sardegna), Italy ACTIVE Participant
     LAORE(Laore Sardegna), Italy ACTIVE Participant
     UNISS(University of Sassari), Italy ACTIVE Participant
     IBNA(Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Biologie si Nutritie Animala (INCDBNA)), Romania ACTIVE Participant
     Oviaragón(Oviaragón SCL), Spain ACTIVE Participant
     NEIKER(NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario S.A.), Spain ACTIVE Participant
     LURGINTZA(LURGINTZA SOCIEDAD COOPERATIVA), Spain ACTIVE Participant
     CDEO(Centre Départemental de l'Elevage Ovin), France ACTIVE Participant
     Institut de l'Elevage ACTIVE Coordinator

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