Five climate-smart agricultural practices (CSA) were focused on in the Danish use case, representing the pig sector. The five CSAs were frequent discharge of slurry, acidification of slurry, use of biogas, green protein for feed, and technologies for ventilation. In our third CCW workshop, organized in cooperation with SKOV A/S, technologies for ventilation were the focus of the keynote talks, on how this practice, along with other practices, played a role in developing fair business models and assessing sustainability impacts for the adoption of climate-smart agriculture.
Technologies for ventilation did not have a direct effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from pig production, as the system did not include air filtering. However, ideal climate control in the housing facilities for pigs or poultry is crucial for ensuring optimal growth, performance, and health for pigs (and poultry) at all stages, which affected feed intake and, consequently, GHG emissions. Moreover, energy consumption and efficiency were improved, which unlocked opportunities for implementing other strategies and initiatives that could reduce emissions from slurry handling, for instance.
The four Discussion Topics of the workshop were:
- Climate-friendly pig farm construction
- Challenges in meeting climate impact requirements without increasing overall emissions
- Need for consideration of the building’s purpose
- Risk-sharing fund
- Example: Horse bean cultivation risk supported by public/private stakeholders
- Farmers are willing to share data, but retailer participation is crucial
- Consumer demand is uncertain post-COVID
- Retail decisions for climate-smart agriculture
- Need for realistic, gradual requirements for regenerative agriculture
Consumers confused about sustainability and meat consumption. The key takeaways from the CCW were:
- Energy-efficient ventilation plays a crucial role in sustainable pig production
- Regional differences in climate and energy pricing impact global pig farming strategies
- Retail and consumer demand are essential for scaling sustainable solutions
- ESG reporting is valuable but must align with actionable sustainability goals
Next Steps:
- Further testing of Dynamic Multi-Step Ventilation systems – holds great potential
- Exploration of risk-sharing models for climate-friendly feed production
- Continuing ESG data collection and refinement
