Evaluation of the Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Livestock Farms in Inland Areas

A recent study reveals that livestock farms within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park (Southern Italy) rely heavily on public subsidies for survival, often constituting over 75% of total output. The research evaluated economic and environmental sustainability across three grazing systems: sheep/goat-only, cattle-only, and mixed cattle/sheep/goat farms. While cattle farming showed lower environmental sustainability due to higher methane emissions from enteric fermentation, all systems provide significant ecosystem services that should be enhanced to incentivize farmers in marginal inland areas. The study used gross profit, net income, milk transformation value, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess economic viability and environmental impact per farm and adult bovine unit.

Cerrato, M., Iasi, A., Di Bennardo, F., & Pergola, M. (2023). Evaluation of the Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Livestock Farms in Inland Areas. Agriculture, 13(9), 1708. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091708