| |
Records |
Links |
|
Author |
Meul, M.; Van Middelaar, C.E.; de Boer, I.J.M.; Van Passel, S.; Fremaut, D.; Haesaert, G. |
|
| |
Title |
Potential of life cycle assessment to support environmental decision making at commercial dairy farms |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
| |
Year  |
2014 |
Publication |
Agricultural Systems |
Abbreviated Journal |
Agr Syst |
|
| |
Volume |
131 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
105-115 |
|
| |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM) |
|
| |
Abstract |
In this paper, we evaluate the potential of life cycle assessment (LCA) to support environmental decision making at commercial dairy farms. To achieve this, we follow a four-step method that allows converting environmental assessment results using LCA into case-specific advice for farmers. This is illustrated in a case-study involving 20 specialized Flemish dairy farms. Calculated LCA indicators are normalized into scores between 0 and 100, whereby a score of 100 is assumed optimal, to allow for a mutual comparison of indicators for different environmental impact categories. Next, major farm and management characteristics affecting environmental performance are identified using multiple regression and correlation analyses. Finally, comparing specific farm and management characteristics with those of best performing farms identifies farm-specific optimization strategies. We conclude that this approach complies with most of the identified critical success factors for the successful implementation of LCA as a decision support system for farmers. Key aspects herein are (i) the flexibility and accessibility of the model, (ii) the use of readily available farm data, (iii) farm advisors being intended model users, (iv) the identification of key farm and management characteristics affecting environmental performance and (v) the organization of discussion sessions involving farmers and farm advisors. However, attention should be paid (i) to provide sufficient training and guidance for farm advisors on the use of the applied LCA model and the interpretation of results, (ii) to evaluate the correctness of the used data and (iii) to keep the model up-to-date according to new scientific insights and knowledge concerning LCA methodology. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
|
| |
Address |
|
|
| |
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
|
| |
Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
|
| |
Language |
|
Wos |
000343955300011 |
Publication Date |
2014-09-15 |
|
| |
Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
|
| |
Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
|
| |
ISSN |
0308-521x |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
|
| |
Impact Factor |
2.571 |
Times cited |
25 |
Open Access |
|
|
| |
Notes |
; ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 2.571; 2014 IF: 2.906 |
|
| |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:127540 |
Serial |
6238 |
|
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
|
Author |
Meul, M.; Van Passel, S.; Fremaut, D.; Haesaert, G. |
|
| |
Title |
Higher sustainability performance of intensive grazing versus zero-grazing dairy systems |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
| |
Year |
2012 |
Publication |
Agronomy For Sustainable Development |
Abbreviated Journal |
Agron Sustain Dev |
|
| |
Volume |
32 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
629-638 |
|
| |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM) |
|
| |
Abstract |
Although grazing of dairy cows is an integral part of dairy farming in many European countries, farmers today more often choose for zero-grazing systems, where cows are housed throughout the year. Some studies already compared grazing and zero-grazing systems for specific issues such as labor efficiency, environmental impact, or animal welfare. In our study, we perform a more integrated evaluation, considering relevant ecological, economic, and social aspects. This allows for a balanced and more complete comparison of the sustainability performance of the two production methods. We evaluated ten intensive grazing and ten zero-grazing specialized Flemish dairy farms on the use of nutrients and energy, productivity and profitability, labor input, and animal welfare. In addition, we put special effort in formulating useful management advice for farmers. Therefore, we combined a detailed analysis of the sustainability indicators with an intensive interaction and discussion with farmers and farm advisors. Results show that, on average, the zero-grazing farms performed significantly worse from an ecological and economic point of view. This fact is explained mainly due to a less efficient use of concentrates and byproducts. Social sustainability performance did not differ significantly between the two groups. As a result, the integrated sustainability performance was significantly lower for the zero-grazing group. This finding shows that a further shift from intensive grazing to zero-grazing can move dairy farming in Flanders further away from sustainability. An important advice to improve the ecological and economic performance of zero-grazing farms is to optimize cows' rations to include more forages and optimize forage production and use. More detailed site- and case-specific management advice for farmers of both groups was provided during a discussion meeting. We consider this an essential additional step to any sustainability evaluation, since progress can only be made when monitoring results are translated into practical measures. |
|
| |
Address |
|
|
| |
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
|
| |
Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
|
| |
Language |
|
Wos |
000306061800003 |
Publication Date |
2012-01-11 |
|
| |
Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
|
| |
Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
|
| |
ISSN |
1774-0746 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
|
| |
Impact Factor |
4.101 |
Times cited |
26 |
Open Access |
|
|
| |
Notes |
; ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 4.101; 2012 IF: 3.573 |
|
| |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:127557 |
Serial |
6209 |
|
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
|
Author |
Van Passel, S.; Meul, M. |
|
| |
Title |
Multilevel and multi-user sustainability assessment of farming systems |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
| |
Year |
2012 |
Publication |
Environmental Impact Assessment Review |
Abbreviated Journal |
Environ Impact Asses |
|
| |
Volume |
32 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
170-180 |
|
| |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology |
|
| |
Abstract |
Sustainability assessment is needed to build sustainable farming systems. A broad range of sustainability concepts, methodologies and applications already exists. They differ in level, focus, orientation, measurement, scale, presentation and intended end-users. In this paper we illustrate that a smart combination of existing methods with different levels of application can make sustainability assessment more profound, and that it can broaden the insights of different end-user groups. An overview of sustainability assessment tools on different levels and for different end-users shows the complementarities and the opportunities of using different methods. In a case-study, a combination of the sustainable value approach (SVA) and MOTIFS is used to perform a sustainability evaluation of farming systems in Flanders. SVA is used to evaluate sustainability at sector level, and is especially useful to support policy makers, while MOTIFS is used to support and guide farmers towards sustainability at farm level. The combined use of the two methods with complementary goals can widen the insights of both farmers and policy makers, without losing the particularities of the different approaches. To stimulate and support further research and applications, we propose guidelines for multilevel and multi-user sustainability assessments. |
|
| |
Address |
|
|
| |
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
|
| |
Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
|
| |
Language |
|
Wos |
000297874000020 |
Publication Date |
2011-09-21 |
|
| |
Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
|
| |
Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
|
| |
ISSN |
0195-9255 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
|
| |
Impact Factor |
3.094 |
Times cited |
49 |
Open Access |
|
|
| |
Notes |
; ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 3.094; 2012 IF: 1.851 |
|
| |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:94186 |
Serial |
6231 |
|
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
|
Author |
Meul, M.; Van Passel, S.; Nevens, F.; Dessein, J.; Rogge, E.; Mulier, A.; Van Hauwermeiren, A. |
|
| |
Title |
MOTIFS : a monitoring tool for integrated farm sustainability |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
| |
Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Agronomy For Sustainable Development |
Abbreviated Journal |
Agron Sustain Dev |
|
| |
Volume |
28 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
321-332 |
|
| |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics |
|
| |
Abstract |
Indicator-based monitoring tools are frequently applied for sustainability assessments, also in agriculture. However, many indicators focus on a rather restricted number of sustainability aspects such as economy or ecology. Moreover the choice of the indicator is rarely explained. The aim of our study was to develop an indicator-based monitoring tool for integrated farm sustainability – i.e. taking into account economic and ecological and social aspects – based on a supported vision of sustainable agriculture and using a set of relevant indicators. Hereby, specific attention was paid to aspects of communication and user-friendliness. Four methodological steps were considered: (i) translating the major principles of a supported vision of sustainable Flemish agriculture into concrete and relevant themes; (ii) designing indicators to monitor progress towards sustainability for each of those themes; (iii) aggregating the indicators into an integrated farm sustainability monitoring tool and (iv) applying the monitoring tool on a practical farm, as a first attempt at end-use validation. Stakeholder participation and expert consulting played an important part in each of these methodological steps. As a case study, the methodology was applied to Flemish dairy farms. As a result, we developed MOTIFS, a user-friendly and strongly communicative indicator-based monitoring tool that allows the measurement of progress towards integrated sustainable dairy farming systems and fits within a well-founded methodological framework. MOTIFS is based on the equality of the economic, ecological and social sustainability dimensions, and this equality is inherently built into the system. Through the applied methodology, we founded the selected themes and indicators and we avoided using indicators that are not relevant to the problem at hand. |
|
| |
Address |
|
|
| |
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
|
| |
Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
|
| |
Language |
|
Wos |
000256235500018 |
Publication Date |
2008-03-21 |
|
| |
Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
|
| |
Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
|
| |
ISSN |
1774-0746 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
|
| |
Impact Factor |
4.101 |
Times cited |
97 |
Open Access |
|
|
| |
Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: 4.101; 2008 IF: 1.649 |
|
| |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:136763 |
Serial |
6229 |
|
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
|
Author |
Nevens, F.; Dessein, J.; Meul, M.; Rogge, E.; Verbruggen, I.; Mulier, A.; Van Passel, S.; Lepoutre, J.; Hongenaert, M. |
|
| |
Title |
'On tomorrow's grounds' : Flemish agriculture in 2030: a case of participatory translation of sustainability principles into a vision for the future |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
| |
Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Journal Of Cleaner Production |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Clean Prod |
|
| |
Volume |
16 |
Issue |
10 |
Pages |
1062-1070 |
|
| |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics |
|
| |
Abstract |
In Flanders (Belgium) there is an obvious lack of clear long-term vision on sustainable development, for society as a whole as well as for the individual sectors of (economic) activity. In this paper we present the first results of a process of vision development for Flemish agriculture, called On tomorrow's grounds. The initiative, taken by Stedula (the Flemish Policy Research Centre for Sustainable Agriculture), shows that discovering core values, stating a concise mission, establishing guiding core principles and working with vivid descriptions of envisaged future systems seem indispensable elements to develop a vision that inspires and mobilizes people and that, eventually, stands a chance of being anchored in the sector's or organisation's culture. The principal method of working of the project was a multi-stakeholder process (MSP) focussed on dialogue. During five extensive stakeholder meetings, representatives of farmers, service industries, food distribution, education, government, research, consumers and NGO's participated in a constructive dialogue on values and mission, principles and two vivid descriptions of envisioned future farms. The concept of the project was welcomed and supported by the Flemish Minister-President and by the Belgian federal state secretary for sustainable development. |
|
| |
Address |
|
|
| |
Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
|
| |
Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
|
| |
Language |
|
Wos |
000256245800004 |
Publication Date |
2007-08-08 |
|
| |
Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
|
| |
Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
|
| |
ISSN |
0959-6526 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
|
| |
Impact Factor |
5.715 |
Times cited |
13 |
Open Access |
|
|
| |
Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: 5.715; 2008 IF: 1.362 |
|
| |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:136765 |
Serial |
6232 |
|
| Permanent link to this record |
