Intensive livestock farming systems across europe – A review of the current impact from the ippc directive based on data gathered by questionnaire
Résumé
Intensive Livestock Farming (ILF) can be a major contributor of environmental impacts including air emissions, soil contamination and surface water pollution. For these reasons ILF of pig and poultry are included in the European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC). The first Reference Document on Best Available Techniques for ILF of poultry and pig was published in 2003. In the context of its revision, a European project was commissioned with eight partners (Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Spain, Czech Republic, Switzerland, France) and coordinated by KTBL (Germany). Known as BAT-Support, the aim of the project was (i) to establish and update data on the systems and techniques used in ILF across Europe, (ii) to develop a documentation and assessment system for the classification of those techniques identified as “Best Available Technology” and (iii), to coordinate a review process with experts from the ILF sector. The overall objective was to develop an integrated and consistent methodology for the classification of livestock production systems including storage, treatment and spreading of the manures produced, in terms of “Best Available Technology”. The purpose of this paper is to present the main ILF pig and poultry farming systems in use based on information gathered from questionnaires and expert opinion.