Ecosystem services from dairy farms

Transcription

1 Ecosystem services from dairy farms Pasture, grasslands and carbon sequestration from a different angle A Swedish perspective Pernilla Tidåker SLU & RISE

2 Ecosystem services Benefits that ecosystems provide humans Climate regulation Bioenergi Cultural heritage FOOD Soil fertility Pollination Carbon sequestration Water regulation Disease regulation Provisioning services Regulating services Supporting services Cultural services Recreation

3 Increasing use of the concept of ecosystem services in many sectors EU Biodiversity strategy (2011) to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020 Number of papers containing the words ecosystem services or ecological services

4 Ecosystem services shall influence all decisions taken Boverket the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning The Swedish building sector has for a long time been highlighting ecosystem services Huge potential for agriculture and the food industry to visualise, enhance and communicate ecosystem services The importance of biodiversity and the value of ecosystem services are, by 2018, to be generally known and integrated into economic positions, political considerations and other decisions in society, where it is relevant and reasonable to do so. Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

5 How do dairy farms contribute to ecosystem services? Permanent and rotational grass/clover Semi-natural pastures Semi-natural habitats Many important agricultural ecosystem services are related to dairy and beef production

6 Grass/clover Many positive effects of grass/clover in the rotation Depressing pests, diseases and weeds Decreasing the risk for nutrient losses Providing nitrogen through symbiotic N fixation Providing floral resources for pollinators Increasing the yields for subsequent crops Carbon sequestration Mitigate climate change Enhance soil fertility SOC ~0,5-1 percentage higher on cattle farms than farm specialised on crop or pig production Grass/clover the root of good

7 Carbon sequestration A promoted strategy for mitigating climate change High potential in intensively managed and fertilised grasslands due to long growing season more allocation of C to roots Time-dependent and reversible process Steady state: 100 years or more in cold Nordic areas Kätterer et al (2012)

8 Carbon sequestration must be compared to the GHG emissions from the production kg CO 2 -ekv. per ton vall Clover in the ley has a high potential to reduce the carbon footprint! Ogödslad blandvall Unfertilised grass/clover Gödslad blandvall Fertilised grass/clover N 2 O from soil N fert. prod. Gödslad gräsvall Fertilised grass Kväveleverans Kolinlagring Lustgasemissioner mark Produktion av N-gödsel Ensileringsmedel Ensilageplast Fältarbete

9 Why perennial grass sequences more carbon than maise Ley 9 t DM/ha Maise 10 t DM/ha Maise 12 t DM/ha Carbon removed as yield Carbon in residues Cederberg et al. Potentialer för jordbruket som kolsänka. SIK-rapport 850. Carbon in roots more stable than above-ground residues

10 Semi-natural pastures High value for biodiversity Cultural heritage Provide floral resources and nesting Limited carbon sequestration in semi-natural grasslands (naturbetesmarker) under Swedish conditions Swedish Arla farms manage % of all semi-natural pastures in Sweden!

11 Semi-natural habitats field boundaries road verges hedgerows field islets groves etc. Loss of semi-natural habitats is one major driver declining farm biodiversity. Small biotopes are important for preservation of pollinators, especially when no massflowering crops are available.

12 Indicators for ecosystem services on dairy farms Share and total amount of ley crops Share and total amount of pasture Number of grazing cattles Clover in the ley seed mixture (or in the growing ley) Presence of small biotopes Use of pesticides (e.g. g active substance per ha) Visitors

13 How can ecosystem services be preserved and enhanced? Grazing! Particularly on semi-natural pastures Introduce (more) clover in the ley seed mixture and leave flowering clover in strips More rotational grass/clover in the crop rotation Take care of semi-natural habitats on farms Minimise the use of pesticides Etc. All these measures have multiple benefits on ecosystem services! Important to highlight the farmer s role for managing ecosystem services!

14 How can the concept of ecosystem services be used for increasing sustainability in the food chain? Many opportunities, but few practical examples Internal learning or external communication? Storytelling or formalised rules and regulations? Requirements or selection of measures in a toolbox? Brand building? Including in certification systems? Payment systems? Tool for learning and inspiration? Indicators for internal use? Informing purchasers and consumers? Others?

15 Using the concept of ecosystem services highlights the benefits related to dairy production and common goods are visualised Important to highlight perennial ley, legumes, pastures and small biotopes Many potential options, but few forerunners Incentives Summary Mapping & learning Communications OBS! Ska snyggas till med bilder och ingen punktlista

16 Thank you!