Agriculture and air quality in France : the reduction potentials of ammonia emissions Dr. Lionel LAUNOIS French Ministry of Agriculture CITEPA's annual Conference - 26 th March 2014 Agriculture and air quality in France A. Overall context in French 1. Impacted sector and a contributor to air pollution 2. Regulatory context and news 3. Emissions of pollutants : focus on ammonia (NH 3 ) 4. Remaining statistical uncertainties B. Implemented actions in French 2. Examples of implemented actions in 1
Overall context in French 1. Impacted sector and a contributor to air pollution Pollutants concerned: PM 10, PM 2,5, NO X, NH 3 and phytopharmaceutical products. Main origins: Livestock farming Buildings, storage and manure spreading, grazing. Farming Sludge, fertilisers and phytosanitary products spreading, swailing. Silviculture Specific excavators. Other orgins Combustion plants, air conditioning, tractors, open-air burning of crop residues. Also an impacted sector: Lower yields Overall context in French 2. Regulatory context and news Revision of ammonia emissions ceiling Göteborg protocol: 4% less NH 3 emissions in 2020; Ceiling in 2020: 631kt NH 3 per year. NEC Directive: Revision in progress; Proposed ceilings: 29% less NH 3 and CH 4 emissions in 2030. Revision of national framework (PREPA): Revision in progress (2014-15) including all the stakeholders; Fixed objectives and actions for every sector. Currently administration focuses on two thematics of the PREPA: Open-air burning of crop residues & Emergency measures peak pollution. Obligations to fulfill in terms of air quality Revision in progress of the livestock farming decree 2
Overall context in French 3. Emissions of pollutants Particulate matter emissions from agricultural sub-sectors PM 10 (kt) Farming 24,3 = 46,2 % of agricultural PM 10 Livestock farming 18,6 = 35,4 % of agricultural PM 10 Silviculture 0,5 = 0,9 % of agricultural PM 10 Other sources from (including tractors) TOTAL Agriculture Silviculture 52,6 9,2 = 17,4 % of agricultural PM 10 Agricultural particulate matter emissions (PM 10 ) = 20% of national emissions (260kt); (PM 2.5 ) = 9% of national emissions Overall context in French 3. Emissions of pollutants Nitrogen oxide (NO X ) emissions from agricultural sub-sectors NO X (kt) Farming 0.9 = 0.9% of agricultural PM 10 Livestock farming 0 = 0% of agricultural PM 10 Silviculture 5.1 = 5.1% of agricultural PM 10 Other sources from (including tractors) TOTAL Agriculture Silviculture 95.7 89.8 = 93.8% of agricultural PM 10 Agricultural NO X emissions = 9.5% of national emissions (1005kt); Other sectors in France: Road transport 56% / Factories 14% 3
Overall context in French 3. Emissions of pollutants: focus on ammonia (NH 3 ) emissions NH 3 is a precursor gas of secondary particles Some figures on total ammonia emissions in France: NH 3 emissions in 2005: 657kt; NH 3 emissions in 2010: 649kt NEC ceiling in 2010: 780kt; NH 3 emissions in 2011: 674kt. Agricultural NH 3 emissions: 97% of the national emissions in 2011 (657kt); 75% of the agricultural emissions are produced by livestock farming; 25% of the NH 3 emissions are produced by fertilisers spreading. Since 1990, NH 3 emissions are decreasing in France: ~ 5% less NH 3 emissions for 20 years. Overall context in French 4. Statistical uncertainties still remain Uncertainties remain low for ammonia (<35%) and nitrogen oxide (<30%) emissions Uncertainties for particulate matter emissions remain high (>200%) Studies have still enabled to refine emission factors Additional studies are in progress to refine French data, espcially for: Open-air burning; Tractors emissions; Mineral fertilisers; Coverage of the slurry pits; Manure spreading. 4
Implemented actions in French : Information brochure (2012) Ademe has distributed more than 3,000 brochures dealing with agricultural best practices for atmosphere. Prospective study (December 2013) Ademe has finalized a study dealing with emissions reduction potentials using best practices by 2020 & 2030. Implemented actions in French Modernization of livestock buildings and farm machinery: Coverage of the slurry pits: eligible for national modernization funding plan since 2012; Development of spreading equipment: more efficient and less suitable for particle matter emissions (e.g. drop hose, ) Need to acquire more knowledge 5
Implemented actions in French Modernization of livestock buildings and farm machinery Reduction of tractors emissions: Technical possibilities: engine test bench; Awareness on eco-driving; Agricultural knowledge; Opinion poll for understanding the farmers behaviour. Implemented actions in French Modernization of livestock buildings and farm machinery Reduction of tractors emissions Reduction of mineral fertiliser emissions: Working groups on the subject, part of the French national action plan (Ecophyto) related to EU directive on «sustainable use of pesticides»; Identification of possible future work: Ammonitrate risk (storage); Impact on agricultural practices; Costs of material evolution and impact on water. 6
Implemented actions in French Modernization of livestock buildings and farm machinery Reduction of tractors emissions Reduction of mineral fertiliser emissions Farming technical improvements for decreasing particulate matter emissions: INRAs study on no-till technologies; Need to continue the work. Implemented actions in French Modernization of livestock buildings and farm machinery Reduction of tractors emissions Reduction of mineral fertiliser emissions Farming technical improvements for decreasing particulate matter emissions Animal feed adjustment: Well-developed practices in poultry and pig industries (~80%); Costs reduction; Mitigation potentials limited in terms of impacts on emissions. 7
Implemented actions in French 2. Examples of implemented measures in Practical measures: Adjustment of the ration feed; Dose calculation for fertilizers spreading; Environment management in livestock buildings; Development of spreading equipments (e.g. drop hose) and incorporation techniques for effluents in the soil after spreading. Applied research studies: Mixed Technology Network (RMT) Livestock and Environment. Communication and awareness: Technical seminar (November 2012) "Better quantify air pollutant emissions from farms to better reduce" (APCA - ADEME - RMT Livestock and Environment); Information days (December 2013 & January 2014) for agricultural public (Regional Chambers of Agriculture Lorraine and Pays de la Loire). Agriculture and air quality in France C. Conclusion and perspectives Air pollution that is generated by is complex because depends on many factors; These factors may be beyond the control of the operator (meteorology, etc..), but others are partially influenced (practices, materials); However, movement is engaged in, actions are taken to be pursued; For this it is necessary to consider all the issues in an integrated manner including economic and practical constraints to further concrete and feasible actions; Development of a global vision: the agro-ecological project, which takes the overall production systems including air, soil and water compartments. 8
Agriculture and air quality in France Thank you for your attention 9