Bewertung gesellschaftlicher Nebenleistungen von ökologischen und konventionellen Milchviehbetrieben Süddeutschlands innerhalb der Treibhausgasbilanzierung

Summary

Allocation of greenhouse gas emissions with economic allocation for milk and beef is well established in carbon foot printing, but many organic and extensive farms fulfill a wide range of additional ecosystem services for society such as management of renewable natural resources as well as preservation of biodiversity and cultural landscapes. Farms are compensated for these ecosystem services by the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union. This study introduces a new aspect by examining an economic allocation for greenhouse gas emissions including ecosystem services besides milk and beef for 113 dairy farms located in grassland-based areas of Southern Germany. Results are carbon footprints of 1.66 kg CO2eq/kg fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) on average in “conventional economic allocation”. Economic allocation, which includes ecosystem services based on the farm net income, results in a carbon footprint of 1.5 kg CO2eq/kg FPCM on average. Especially organic and extensive systems are favored with this approach. This approach shows that carbon footprints of dairy farms should not be examined one-dimensionally based solely on the amount of milk and meat that is produced on the farm; rather, a broader approach is necessary especially in organic farms.