Challenges When Assessing Water-Related Environmental Impacts of Livestock Farming: A Case Study of a Cow Milk Production System in Catalonia
Author
Andón Mañero, Miquel
Targa, Anna
Publication date
2024-05-02ISSN
2073-4441
Abstract
Water availability is a local issue of growing importance in Mediterranean areas where water scarcity linked to climate change and population growth is already leading to increased competition for this resource. This study is aimed at the following: (i) assessing the water-related environmental impacts (water use, freshwater ecotoxicity and eutrophication, marine eutrophication, acidification, human toxicity, and ionizing radiation) along the production chain of cow milk in Catalonia, northeastern Spain; and (ii) addressing the issues encountered (modelling choices, data gaps and inconsistencies) which t can affect the quality of results when performing a water-footprint comprehensive assessment, focusing on water use and associated water scarcity impacts. The scope included the process from the extraction of raw materials up to the distribution of the packaged fat- and protein-corrected milk to the distribution centres of the supermarket chains and markets. Results showed the farm stage to be determinant (contributing to over 60% of the impact), due to the impact of feed production. Impact results were in the range of the European benchmark given by the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for dairy products, except for the water scarcity footprint which was one order of magnitude larger than the reference value, due to water scarcity in Spain. Considering compound feed ingredients with a lower water scarcity footprint, and research into slurry treatment for its use as irrigation and cleaning water (without compromising safety and health) could help reduce this impact. Water accounting and traceability along the production chain could support the dairy industry to take responsibility for the consequences of their production choices.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
636 - Animal husbandry and breeding in general. Livestock rearing. Breeding of domestic animals
Pages
20
Publisher
MDPI
Is part of
Water
Citation
Ruiz-Colmenero, Marta, Ariadna Bàllega, Miquel Andón, Marta Terré, Maria Devant, Assumpció Antón, Ralph K Rosenbaum, Anna Targa, and Montserrat Núñez. 2024. “Challenges When Assessing Water-Related Environmental Impacts of Livestock Farming: A Case Study of a Cow Milk Production System in Catalonia.” Water 16(9). doi:10.3390/w16091299.
Grant agreement number
EC/EIP-AGRI/ /EC/Huella ambiental de leche y carne de bovino/RUMPRINT
MICINN/Programa Estatal de promoción del talento y su empleabilidad en I+D+I/RYC2020-029420-I/ES/ /
Program
Sostenibilitat en Biosistemes
Producció de Remugants
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2713]
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/