Contact/s:
Lorena Giglio
l.giglio@crpa.it
Elena Bortolazzo
e.bortolazzo@crpa.it
Mapping Adaptation and Mitigation Measures on European Poultry Farms: Insights from the Climate Farm Demo Network
Europe
All
1. Poultry farms
2. Adaptation and mitigation measures
Thematic Areas
Production System/s
Summary for Practicioners on the Main Finding(s)/Innovative solution(s)
According to 2022 data from EU Agriculture, the European Union is one of the world’s largest producers and a net exporter of poultry meat. Within the context of the Climate Farm Demo network of Pilot Demo Farms (PDFs), poultry farms account for just 3% of the total PDFs and are predominantly located in France, Romania, and Austria.
To reduce the environmental impact of poultry farms, participating farmers and their Climate Farm Advisors identified and committed to implementing a series of adaptation and mitigation measures (AMMs) practices over the
timelapse of the project. In total, these farmers have selected 35 distinct AMMs. Most of these chosen strategies function as mitigation measures, with a strong foundational focus on three core operational areas: feeding management, animal husbandry, and facility management.
In total, poultry farmers selected 35 different AMMs and most of them are mitigation measures, strongly focused on animal husbandry and feeding management and facility management.
Regarding feeding management, the key strategies selected include reducing concentrated feed, utilizing feed formulations with enhanced nutritional value during periods of high heat, and replacing imported protein supplements, such as soybeans, with regional alternatives.
In terms of animal husbandry, the chosen measures are designed to prioritize livestock health and animal welfare. Specific interventions within this category focus on proactively improving the general health status of the animals, actively reducing digestive inflammation in the poultry, and enhancing natural ventilation within the housing structures.
Finally, the implemented facility management measures are primarily centred on the farm’s energy transition, which will be achieved largely through the installation and utilization of photovoltaic systems. This measure was adopted in more than half of the farms involved in the project.
Summary for Practicioners in Native Language
Secondo dati del 2022 di EU Agriculture, l’Unione Europea è uno dei maggiori produttori mondiali e un esportatore netto di carne avicola. All’interno della rete CFD di PDF, gli allevamenti avicoli rappresentano solo il 3% del totale e sono situati prevalentemente in Francia, Romania e Austria.
Per ridurre l’impatto ambientale degli allevamenti avicoli, gli allevatori della rete CFD e i loro CFA si sono impegnati a implementare una serie di misure di adattamento e mitigazione (AMM) nel corso del progetto. In totale, sono state selezionate 35 diverse AMM. La maggior parte funge da misure di mitigazione, con una forte attenzione a 3 aree principali: gestione dell’alimentazione, management dell’allevamento e gestione delle strutture.
Per quanto riguarda la gestione dell’alimentazione, le strategie chiave includono la riduzione dei mangimi concentrati, l’utilizzo di formulazioni con un maggiore valore nutrizionale durante i periodi di forte caldo e la sostituzione degli integratori proteici importati — come la soia — con alternative regionali.
In termini di management dell’allevamento, le misure scelte danno priorità alla salute e al benessere degli animali. Gli interventi specifici si concentrano sul miglioramento proattivo dello stato di salute generale, sulla riduzione attiva dell’infiammazione digestiva nel pollame e sul potenziamento della ventilazione naturale all’interno delle strutture di stabulazione.
Infine, le misure di gestione delle strutture sono incentrate principalmente sulla transizione energetica dell’azienda, che sarà raggiunta in gran parte attraverso l’installazione e l’utilizzo di impianti fotovoltaici. Questa misura è stata adottata in più della metà degli allevamenti coinvolti nel progetto.
Additional Information
The description provided with this practice abstract captures the interests and needs of the poultry farmers involved in the Climate Farm Demo network. It serves as a useful guide for stakeholders to identify priorities for attention, resource allocation, and future research.
The successful implementation of the selected Adaptation and Mitigation Measures (AMMs) across poultry farms is influenced by several key facilitating elements and potential obstacles. For example, the high adoption rate of photovoltaic systems (implemented by over half of the farms) suggests that existing financial incentives or clear technology pathways are effectively supporting the energy transition in some countries.
However, significant challenges remain. The initial capital investment required for facility upgrades, such as enhanced natural ventilation systems and solar panel installations, can heavily impact smaller farms and prevent them from adopting these measures. Furthermore, modifying diets to reduce reliance on imported soybeans requires reliable local supply chains
and careful nutritional balancing to avoid negatively impacting poultry growth and productivity.
The complete analysis of the measures for the poultry production sector will be available in Climate Farm Demo Deliverable 2.1.