Greenhouse gas mitigation options in Greek dairy sheep farming: A multiobjective programming approach

Abstract

Dairy sheep farming is an important agricultural activity in the Mediterranean region. In Greece, sheep farming offers employment and income to thousands of families. On the other hand, ruminant livestock farming has been identified as a considerable source of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). In this analysis, multiple objectives of policy makers are incorporated into a decision making model that yields a number of alternative mitigation strategies, for Greek dairy sheep farming. Each policy alternative achieves the environmental and socio-economic objectives at certain levels. The policy maker can then select the preferred alternative. The model utilizes detailed farm level data, which increases the accuracy of the results. The analysis is undertaken on two different farming systems identified in Continental Greece and indicates that there is a considerable degree of conflict among the GHGs minimization objective and the gross margin and labor maximization objectives. The results also indicate that the mitigation options for sheep farming involve the reduction or/and the intensification of the activity and also changes in the production orientation and feeding practices. The model, can, therefore, be a useful tool for policy makers, since it allows them to design appropriate measures, according to the mitigation option that best meets their preferences.