Whole-farm models to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and their potential use for linking climate change mitigation and adaptation in temperate grassland ruminant-based farming systems.

Authors: DEL PRADO, A - Basque Foundation For Science; CROSSON, P - Teagasc (AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY); OLESEN, J - Aarhus University; Rotz, Clarence - Al

Submitted to: International Conference on Greenhouse Gasses and Animal Agriculture
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2013
Publication Date: 6/23/2013
Citation: Del Prado, A., Crosson, P., Olesen, J.E., Rotz, C.A. 2013. Whole-farm models to quantify greenhouse gas emissions and their potential use for linking climate change mitigation and adaptation in temperate grassland ruminant-based farming systems. [Abstract]. International Conference on Greenhouse Gasses and Animal Agriculture. p. 1.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: The farm level is considered the most appropriate scale for evaluating options for mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, because the farm represents the unit at which management decisions in livestock production are made. To date, a number of farm-based modeling approaches have been developed to quantify GHG emissions and explore climate change mitigation strategies for livestock systems. This paper analyses the limitations and strengths of the different existing approaches for modeling GHG mitigation by considering basic model structures, approaches for simulating GHG emissions from various farm components, and the sensitivity of GHG outputs and mitigation measures to different approaches. Potential challenges for linking existing models with the simulation of impacts and adaptation measures under climate change are explored along with a brief discussion of the effects on other ecosystem services.