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Carbon and Energy Life-Cycle Assessment for Five Agricultural Anaerobic Digesters in Massachusetts on Small Dairy Farms

Author

Listed:
  • Morris, Chelsea
  • Jorgenson, William
  • Snellings, Sam

Abstract

In the United States anaerobic digestion units are in place on several farms but primarily handle manure and very small fractions of other organic material. AGreen Energy's business model aims to increase the profitability of dairy farmers and the food processing industry by utilizing organic feedstocks produced in urban areas while reducing the risk to investors by installing an expensive technology which better meets the needs of environmental regulators. An assessment is conducted that quantifies environmental impact through estimates of useable energy produced and carbon emissions avoided by AGreen Energy's project to install anaerobic digesters on five Massachusetts farms. The analysis shows the anaerobic co-digestion of manure and source separated organics under project conditions results in a net energy gain of 1:2.9 and a GHG emissions reduction of 50% over business as usual justifying the technique as a sustainable residual management tool for dairy operations as well as food industry businesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Morris, Chelsea & Jorgenson, William & Snellings, Sam, 2010. "Carbon and Energy Life-Cycle Assessment for Five Agricultural Anaerobic Digesters in Massachusetts on Small Dairy Farms," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 13(3), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ifaamr:93563
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.93563
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Saeed Nosratabadi & Amirhosein Mosavi & Zoltan Lakner, 2020. "Food Supply Chain and Business Model Innovation," Papers 2001.03982, arXiv.org.
    2. Li, Xue & Mupondwa, Edmund, 2018. "Commercial feasibility of an integrated closed-loop ethanol-feedlot-biodigester system based on triticale feedstock in Canadian Prairies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 401-413.
    3. Oriana Gava & Fabio Bartolini & Francesca Venturi & Gianluca Brunori & Alberto Pardossi, 2020. "Improving Policy Evidence Base for Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security: A Content Analysis of Life Cycle Assessment Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-29, February.

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