The adoption of best available technologies (BATs) by the livestock sector has a fundamental role in developing a sustainable agricultural system. Italy is the EU member with the highest percentage of manure treated, but processing facilities are regionally scattered and the adoption of BATs is far from being scaled-up. The adoption is a matter of multicriteria decision-making and full knowledge on how to foster the transition is still lacking. The present research aims to deepen the available knowledge by analysing the perception of 40 pig farm managers about decision criteria behind the adopted manure management system across three different Italian regions. We assessed farms in Piemonte, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Veneto. All farms have adequate storage facilities, but 82.5% adopt no processing technique. The two most important decision criteria are economic, i.e., the minimization of treatment and spreading costs. The emerging picture allows us to conclude that BAT adoption is still adopted as a mere consequence of legal obligation. Economic constraints prevail as there is a lack of information and uncertainty. Clear perspectives and recognition of virtuous behavior prevent farmers from making decisions based on environmental or social criteria. Therefore, effective policies oriented to fill these gaps are needed to accelerate the transition towards sustainability.

Insights about the choice of pig manure processing system in three italian regions: Piemonte, friuli venezia giulia, and veneto / P. De Marinis, O. Ferrari, E. Allisiardi, C. De Mattia, G. Caliandro, E. Dinuccio, M. Borin, P. Ceccon, G. Sali, G. Provolo. - In: SUSTAINABILITY. - ISSN 2071-1050. - 13:2(2021 Jan 02), pp. 787.1-787.24. [10.3390/su13020787]

Insights about the choice of pig manure processing system in three italian regions: Piemonte, friuli venezia giulia, and veneto

P. De Marinis
Primo
;
O. Ferrari
Secondo
;
G. Sali
Penultimo
;
G. Provolo
Ultimo
2021

Abstract

The adoption of best available technologies (BATs) by the livestock sector has a fundamental role in developing a sustainable agricultural system. Italy is the EU member with the highest percentage of manure treated, but processing facilities are regionally scattered and the adoption of BATs is far from being scaled-up. The adoption is a matter of multicriteria decision-making and full knowledge on how to foster the transition is still lacking. The present research aims to deepen the available knowledge by analysing the perception of 40 pig farm managers about decision criteria behind the adopted manure management system across three different Italian regions. We assessed farms in Piemonte, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Veneto. All farms have adequate storage facilities, but 82.5% adopt no processing technique. The two most important decision criteria are economic, i.e., the minimization of treatment and spreading costs. The emerging picture allows us to conclude that BAT adoption is still adopted as a mere consequence of legal obligation. Economic constraints prevail as there is a lack of information and uncertainty. Clear perspectives and recognition of virtuous behavior prevent farmers from making decisions based on environmental or social criteria. Therefore, effective policies oriented to fill these gaps are needed to accelerate the transition towards sustainability.
BAT adoption; Decision criteria; Managers’ perception; Pig manure
Settore AGR/10 - Costruzioni Rurali e Territorio Agroforestale
Settore AGR/01 - Economia ed Estimo Rurale
   Migliorare la gestione degli effluenti in pratica: utilizzo del software SEESpig nelle imprese zootecniche (GEZOO)
   GEZOO
   FONDAZIONE CARIPLO
   2017-2209
2-gen-2021
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/816661
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