Expansion of the Sustainability and Organic Livestock Model
Abstract
The project aims at developing
A refined Sustainability and Organic Livestock model (SOL-m) with quality data on grassland characterization and related information on organic production activities, including crops, grassland, livestock yields and inputs;
An expanded Food Wastage Footprint model (FWF) with:
an energy footprint component
an economic valuation of natural resources component
a food security and social vulnerability component.
Detailed Description
Develop the Sustainability and Organic Livestock model (SOL-m) with quality data, including:
Improved characterization of organic and conventional production activities, including crops, grassland, livestock yields and agricultural inputs (e.g. extended data screening, experts surveys);
Based on the above-mentioned screenings and surveys, improve data quality and perform plausibility checks with respect to:
Food balances, feed balances, herd structures and economic revenues;
Environmental impacts assessment models in SOL-m, including GHG emissions, energy use and impact on land, water and biodiversity.
Expand SOL-m by developing a new Food Wastage Footprint component as follows:
Integrate the outcome of the FWF model related to impacts on carbon, water, land and biodiversity developed by BIOIS for NRD;
Include food wastage energy footprint data, using LCAs calculations as well as other relevant material;
Design an analytical framework and evaluate the economic costs of natural resources loss linked to food wastage;
Prepare a conceptual framework for assessing the social impact of food wastage, including food security, access to natural resources and livelihood vulnerability and implement selected modelling aspects, such as waste impact on farm income and food availability;
Forecast food wastage footprint in 2050 by considering different food production and consumption scenarios.
Actively contribute to an NRD-organized expert meeting in 2013 to discuss findings with key food wastage footprint players seeking to review and improve the FWF model;
Write a policy paper on Sustainable Food Production and Consumption, including the SOL-m and FWF findings, complete with a comparative analysis of potential gains from avoided food wastage (with due economic valuation of natural resources) and investment requirements to reduce food wastage (e.g. infrastructure for post-harvest losses).
