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The Carbon Navigator: a decision support tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2013

P. Murphy ,
P. Crosson ,
D. O'Brien  and
R. P. O. Schulte
P. Murphy*
Affiliation:
Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Environmental Research Centre, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland
P. Crosson
Affiliation:
Animal Systems Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany Co., Meath, Ireland
D. O'Brien
Affiliation:
Animal Systems Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Moorepark, Fermoy Co., Cork, Ireland
R. P. O. Schulte
Affiliation:
Environment Soils and Land-Use Department, Environmental Research Centre, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland
*
†E-mail: pat.murphy@teagasc.ie
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Abstract

The Carbon Navigator has been developed to support the objective of reducing the carbon intensity of the dairy and beef sectors of Irish agriculture. The system is designed as a knowledge transfer (KT) tool aimed at supporting the realisation at farm level of the mitigation potential. The objective of this paper is to outline the potential role of KT in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the context of a growing body of science, which identifies potential mitigation. The EU policy framework for agriculture and the environment is examined in terms of its effectiveness in supporting the reduction in emission intensity of agriculture. The important role for KT in reducing agricultural emissions is highlighted. The Carbon Navigator is introduced as a potential aid to achieving improved adoption of emission-reducing technologies and practices at farm level. The paper outlines the criteria guiding the selection of mitigation technologies in Irish ruminant agriculture, describes the technologies and practices included in the system and outlines the basis for their inclusion. The approach of developing the Carbon Navigator to integrate into existing infrastructure and data systems as well as into the existing KT systems is outlined.

Keywords

knowledge transfergreenhouse gasdecision support systemcattlecarbon
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 7 , Issue s2: Greenhouse Gases & Animal Agriculture Conference (GGAA 2013), 23rd ‐ 26th June 2013, Dublin, Ireland , June 2013 , pp. 427 - 436
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2013 

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