Biography

Competence:
  • Life Cycle Assessment - LCA
    • Dairy production
    • Sheep production
    • Feed and grain production
    • Macro-algae farming
    • Inclusion of machinery and buildings
    • introduction to use of LCA for students and pupils
  • FARMnor (Flow Analysis and Resource Management): maintenance and further development of the LCA-model
  • Evaluation of climate gasses using GWP, GWP* and GTP; usually on a 100-years horizon
  • Combination of LCA and econommic analysis
  • Organic production
  • Questionaires, qualitative and quantitative
  • Field trials; forage and grain: varieties, fertilizing and weed-control
Education:
  • Dr. agr. (Doctor of Agricultural Sciences) at the Faculty of Organic Agriculture of Kassel University, Germany (2017).
  • Diplom-Agraringenieur (corresponds to master of science) at the Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences of Kiel University, Germany (1993).
  • Certification as agronomist, Landwirtschaftskammer Schleswig-Holstein, Germany (1986).

Member:

Member of EGTOP (Expert group for technical advice on organic production) for the EU-Commission under Directorate-General Agriculture and Rural Development.

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Abstract

In this study, 200 Norwegian dairy farms were analyzed over three years to compare greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen (N) intensity, gross margin, and land use occupation between organically and conventionally managed farms. Conventionally managed farm groups were constructed based on propensity matching, selecting the closest counterparts to organically managed farms (n=15). These groups, each containing 15 farms, were differentiated by an increasing number of matching variables. The first group was matched based on geographical location, milk quota, and milking cow units. In the second match, the proportion of milking cows in the total cattle herd was added, and in the third, the ratio of milk delivered to milk produced and concentrate usage per dairy cow were included. The analysis showed that the conventionally managed farms (n=185) had higher greenhouse gas emissions (1.42 vs 0.98 kg CO2 per 2.78 MJ of edible energy from milk and meat, calculated as GWP100-AR4) and higher N intensity (6.9 vs 5.0 kg N input per kg N output) compared to the organic farms (N=15). When comparing emissions per kg of energy-corrected milk (ECM) delivered, conventional farms also emitted more CO2 (1.07 vs 0.8 kg CO2 per kg ECM). Furthermore, conventionally managed farms showed lower gross margins both in terms of NOK per 2.78 MJ edible energy delivered (5.8 vs 6.5 NOK) and per milking cow unit (30 100 vs 34 400 NOK), and they used less land (2.9 vs 3.6 m² per 2.78 MJ edible energy delivered) compared to organic farms. No differences were observed among the three conventionally managed groups in terms of emissions, N intensity, land use occupation, and gross margin.

Abstract

Ruminants, including sheep, contribute significantly to methane emissions, thus resulting in high emissions per kg of product. However, they can utilise plant material unsuitable for human consumption, thereby transforming it into valuable, protein-rich food. Grazing also preserves cultural landscapes and can contribute to carbon sequestration. Under¬standing the balance between these factors within the climate change context is crucial. This study inves-tigates the environmental impact of meat, milk, and wool production from sheep farming in Norway and Slovenia.