Best available techniques (BAT) for intensive rearing of pig, poultry and cattle in EECCA countries – support of the implementation of the Gothenburg Protocol of the UNECE-CLRTAP and the environmentally sound techniques according to the EU Industrial Emission Directive (IED)
Agriculture development plans of the Russian Federation, specifically those of the North-West Federal District, stipulate substantial increase in livestock and poultry stock. This will be achieved through the reconstruction of the existing livestock complexes and the construction of the new ones with the use of highly intensive technologies and spot concentration of animals. It is therefore very urgent to reduce negative environmental impact of large animal production due to the big amounts of animal and poultry, in the first place – up to 100 thousand tons per farm annually. One of the ways to address this problem is to introduce the Best Available Techniques (BAT) in intensive livestock farming.
The reforming of the Russian environmental legislation is currently in progress with the overall aim to improve and coordinate it with the corresponding European standards. Application of BAT criteria is one of the harmonization elements of Russian and European environmental policies. The Federation Council passed a bill, prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, which is focused on enhancement of environmental regulations and introduction of economic incentives for businesses to apply BATs. It is planned to use the European experience in BATs introduction following the EU Industrial Emission Directive – IED.
Also the process to prepare and substantiate the conditions ofRussia’s ratification of the protocols of UNECE Convention of Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) is going on. The Gothenburg Protocol of the UNECE-CLRTAP provides for initiation of abatement measures of ammonia emissions from agricultural sources. Nearly all measures identified in the CLRTAP “Guidance Document for Preventing and Abating Ammonia Emissions from Agricultural Sources” are in line with the provisions of the “Reference Document on Best Available Techniques (BAT) for Intensive Rearing of Poultry and Pigs” (BREF).
At present the integration of BATs system in Russia’s agricultural production is at an initial stage. For that reason all practical, methodical, research and technical aspects of BATs application in Europe are of the utmost interest.
Cooperation and information exchange under this project with German partners, who are active participants of the so-called Seville process of BAT identification and Reference documents preparation, should contribute to application of BAT process in the Russian agricultural practice.
The results and findings of the project will be also available for EECCA countries and contribute to the support of EECCA Countries related to a future possible ratification of the Gothenburg Protocol of CLRTAP and the adoption of the idea of the European IED Directive.
1. PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND STATE OF THE ART
The overall objective of this project is to develop an information exchange on the integrated and specific methodology for the classification of livestock housing systems, and of the storage, treatment and spreading of manure produced, in terms of “Best Available Techniques (BAT)” (which has been developed during the IED information exchange in Central Europe).
The specific objective of the project is to draft proposals on introduction of BATs for intensive livestock farming in the Russian Federation based on the relevant European experience.
To carry out this objective in compliance with the Service Description the project will complete the following tasks:
a) to acquire and analyze the information on the European procedure of identification, selection and implementation of Best Available Techniques for the intensive rearing of livestock (including pig and poultry rearing according to the EU IED Directive);
b) to identify (an existing) or develop (a new) scheme for the assessment of IRPP BAT suitable for the Russian Federation;
c) to disseminate information on suitable for Russia BATs for intensive livestock farming among scientists, advisors, farm managers, politicians and administration;
d) to make proposals for BAT introduction system in the intensive livestock farming sector in Russia including a regularly update of the BAT identification procedure. It is expected that the testing of BAT system on a demonstration (pilot) farm will be the scope on the follow-up projects.
The work would be done for the conditions of the North-West of Russia.
The technologies (processes) under consideration: feeding and housing of livestock; storing and processing of manure, organic fertilizer application.