ECM - Climate Change Mitigation in Agriculture (DBA.AD003.256)

Thematic area

Biology, agriculture and food sciences

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute of BioEconomy (IBE)

Project manager

PIERPAOLO DUCE
Phone number: 079-2841503
Email: pierpaolo.duce@ibe.cnr.it

Abstract

The strategy of the ECM project includes:
o Analysis of the environmental implications of the agricultural supply chains: using the LCA methods, we will evaluate the environmental performances of agricultural production processes and products "from farms to grave". The analysis will be performed on different agricultural products produced according to the most common systems. This will allow to identify the critical environmental points of the production processes.
o Development of guidelines for the eco-design of different agricultural products: based on LCA results, and through meetings, focus groups and working groups, we will define the strategic approaches and the technical solutions most appropriate for the mitigation of climate change and the optimization of the environmental quality of the entire supply chains.
o Demonstration actions for farmers, retailers and consumers: a) implementation at farm/enterprise scale of eco-innovative production strategies, and quantitative comparison of these strategies with traditional management systems; b) promotion of application of low-input production systems at the reference model farms.

Goals

ECM would like to contribute to EU objectives regarding the fight against climate change, serving as an initiative aimed at reducing emissions of GHG from the agricultural supply chains. The main objective of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of significantly reducing the GHG emissions (N2O, CH4 and CO2) from the main Mediterranean agricultural supply chains. The immediate objectives of ECM are: 1) encouraging environmental improvements of production systems in the agricultural and agro-industry sectors; 2) promoting the implementation of environmental policies and rural development guided by the Life Cycle Thinking; 3) increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of the stakeholders and the general public on the environmental sustainability of Mediterranean agro-industry products and their role in relation to the mitigation of climate change. Therefore, ECM is addressed to three main types of target groups that play an essential role in achieving the objectives and the propagation of the transforming power of the project: i) farmers and food industry; ii) public authorities; (iii) policy makers involved in Environment/Climate; (iv) consumers and general public.

Start date of activity

01/01/2022

Keywords

Climate change, Mitigation actions, Agriculture

Last update: 20/04/2025