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Evaluating Three-Pillar Sustainability Modelling Approaches for Dairy Cattle Production Systems

Author

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  • Xabier Díaz de Otálora

    (Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), 14469 Potsdam, Germany
    Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), 48940 Leioa, Spain)

  • Agustín del Prado

    (Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), 48940 Leioa, Spain)

  • Federico Dragoni

    (Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), 14469 Potsdam, Germany)

  • Fernando Estellés

    (Institute of Animal Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain)

  • Barbara Amon

    (Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), 14469 Potsdam, Germany
    Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environmental Engineering, University of Zielona Góra, 65-417 Zielona Góra, Poland)

Abstract

Milk production in Europe is facing major challenges to ensure its economic, environmental, and social sustainability. It is essential that holistic concepts are developed to ensure the future sustainability of the sector and to assist farmers and stakeholders in making knowledge-based decisions. In this study, integrated sustainability assessment by means of whole-farm modelling is presented as a valuable approach for identifying factors and mechanisms that could be used to improve the three pillars (3Ps) of sustainability in the context of an increasing awareness of economic profitability, social well-being, and environmental impacts of dairy production systems (DPS). This work aims (i) to create an evaluation framework that enables quantitative analysis of the level of integration of 3P sustainability indicators in whole-farm models and (ii) to test this method. Therefore, an evaluation framework consisting of 35 indicators distributed across the 3Ps of sustainability was used to evaluate three whole-farm models. Overall, the models integrated at least 40% of the proposed indicators. Different results were obtained for each sustainability pillar by each evaluated model. Higher scores were obtained for the environmental pillar, followed by the economic and the social pillars. In conclusion, this evaluation framework was found to be an effective tool that allows potential users to choose among whole-farm models depending on their needs. Pathways for further model development that may be used to integrate the 3P sustainability assessment of DPS in a more complete and detailed way were identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Xabier Díaz de Otálora & Agustín del Prado & Federico Dragoni & Fernando Estellés & Barbara Amon, 2021. "Evaluating Three-Pillar Sustainability Modelling Approaches for Dairy Cattle Production Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6332-:d:567942
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Díaz de Otálora, X. & Amon, B. & Balaine, L. & Dragoni, F. & Estellés, F. & Ragaglini, G. & Kieronczyk, M. & Jørgensen, G.H.M. & del Prado, A., 2024. "Influence of farm diversity on nitrogen and greenhouse gas emission sources from key European dairy cattle systems: A step towards emission mitigation and nutrient circularity," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    3. Adele Coppola & Mario Amato & Domenico Vistocco & Fabio Verneau, 2022. "Measuring the economic sustainability of Italian farms using FADN data," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 68(9), pages 327-337.

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