BACKGROUND
The atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases able to absorb the infrared radiation provokes the global warming, causing climatic variations.
In particular the GAS-OFF project is focused on the analysis of the production of the greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, N2O, CH4) of agricultural and zootechnical provenance and then it proposes techniques and methodologies to solve the problem. The faced issue is well-known internationally and it is strictly linked to the Community policies.
At the international level the KYOTO PROTOCOL, which came in to being in 1997 during the third Conference between the countries-signers of the convention on climate changes (U.N.F.C.C.C.), aims at reducing the emissions of six kind of gases that provoke the greenhouse effect: carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, per-fluorocarbons and sulfur hexofluoride.
The protocol asks for a reduction in greenhouse gases by the countries-signer by 2012 in comparison with the 1990 levels.
OBJECTIVES
The GAS-OFF project aims at the integrated evaluation of strategies to mitigate GHG in dairy farm, including the biogas production and the cultivation of biomass crops processes.
In particular, the specific objectives of GAS-OFF are:
• to reduce the greenhouse gases of enteric origin
• to determine the processes driving CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions in dairy production
• to reduce green house gas emissions from manure
• to promote the production of energy from biogas
• to optimise biomass production from crops
• to promote the use of organic waste (zoo technique wastewaters, digestate and compost) for fertilization of energetic crops
• to involve some pilot demonstrative farms of the area
• to increase farmers’ and technicians’ awareness
• to sensitize public stakeholders
ACTIONS
Through the identification of the processes releasing CO2, CH4, and N2O in dairy production, the GAS-OFF project aims at reducing the emission of greenhouse gases generated by farms and, at the same time, at encouraging the production of energy from biogas.
In addition, optimizing the production of biomass crops and promoting the use of organic compounds in pilot demonstration farms will increase the awareness of farmers and technicians and will encourage the raise of awareness of public stakeholders.
Networking and communication activities will be implemented both at local and at European level with the involvement of farms and associations from different EU Countries, such as Germany, France, Holland, Poland and a Non-EU Serbia. A final international Conference will be organized in Piacenza.
OUTPUT
The main result of the GAS-OFF project will be the development of integrated strategies in order to reduce the environmental impact of dairy farms.
The expected results, among others, are the following ones:
• GHG reduction from cows and livestock manure by the validation of strategic approaches in nutrition management;
• The best strategic approach to mitigate GHG emission related to biomass crop, manure and digestate management;
• Improved biogas production;
• Increased awareness of farmers and stakeholders on the project’s results.