The present study focuses on the perceived benefits and on drivers that may influence the adoption of sustainable waste treatment technologies in the livestock sector, as well as enterprises' provision for future investments pursuing sustainability. Forty-six livestock enterprises were administered a questionnaire investigating: i) the strategies and technologies adopted to reduce the environmental impact of livestock waste and the intention to adopt, ii) the expenses they incurred and iii) the perceived drivers and benefits. The results showed that 65.2% of respondents adopted sustainable technology solutions to manage livestock waste aimed at recovering nutrients or reducing GHG emissions. The perceived benefits in adopting sustainable technologies are firstly "the improved soil fertility and soil organic matter content". For those enterprises that do not adopt any of the proposed technologies, the rising prices of mineral fertilizers and the possibility of producing on-farm bioenergy would be the main drivers to adoption. The average expense for initial investment is 20-50 kEUR, primarily funded by enterprises own capital and secondarily by rural development programmes. 43% of respondents expressed their intention to continue investing in the future, primarily on "high-precision distribution system for slurry in-field application" and "automated systems for the management of waste within the livestock house". Results from the present survey are a valuable baseline to develop and disseminate targeted information on implications and opportunities for sustainable livestock treatment systems, addressing policy makers, farmers trade associations and technology providers.
Sustainable Livestock Waste Treatment Technologies: Survey on a Group of Italian Farm Enterprises
Giorgia Bagagiolo;Lucia Vigoroso;Giulia De Paolis;Federica Caffaro;Eugenio Cavallo;
2022
Abstract
The present study focuses on the perceived benefits and on drivers that may influence the adoption of sustainable waste treatment technologies in the livestock sector, as well as enterprises' provision for future investments pursuing sustainability. Forty-six livestock enterprises were administered a questionnaire investigating: i) the strategies and technologies adopted to reduce the environmental impact of livestock waste and the intention to adopt, ii) the expenses they incurred and iii) the perceived drivers and benefits. The results showed that 65.2% of respondents adopted sustainable technology solutions to manage livestock waste aimed at recovering nutrients or reducing GHG emissions. The perceived benefits in adopting sustainable technologies are firstly "the improved soil fertility and soil organic matter content". For those enterprises that do not adopt any of the proposed technologies, the rising prices of mineral fertilizers and the possibility of producing on-farm bioenergy would be the main drivers to adoption. The average expense for initial investment is 20-50 kEUR, primarily funded by enterprises own capital and secondarily by rural development programmes. 43% of respondents expressed their intention to continue investing in the future, primarily on "high-precision distribution system for slurry in-field application" and "automated systems for the management of waste within the livestock house". Results from the present survey are a valuable baseline to develop and disseminate targeted information on implications and opportunities for sustainable livestock treatment systems, addressing policy makers, farmers trade associations and technology providers.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
