Opportunities for centralized regional mode of manure and sewage management in pig farming: The evidence from environmental and economic performance

Boyang Shi; Changbin Yin; Angélique Léonard; Jian Jiao; Andrea Di Maria; Jerome Bindelle; Zhizhen Yao

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.012

Opportunities for centralized regional mode of manure and sewage management in pig farming: The evidence from environmental and economic performance

Waste Manag. 2023 Oct 1:170:240-251. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.012. Epub 2023 Sep 17.

Authors

Boyang Shi¹, Changbin Yin², Angélique Léonard³, Jian Jiao⁴, Andrea Di Maria⁵, Jerome Bindelle⁶, Zhizhen Yao⁷

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081,China); Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
² State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081,China); Research Center for Agricultural Green Development in China, Beijing 100081, China. Electronic address: yinchangbin@caas.cn.
³ Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081,China); Economics and Rural Development Laboratory, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium.
⁵ Biosystems Dynamics and Exchanges, TERRA Teaching and Research Center, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium.
⁶ Precision Livestock and Nutrition Unit, TERRA Teaching and Research Center, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China (Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081,China).

PMID: 37725856
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.012

Abstract

Pig breeding is moving toward more intensive development and is accompanied by the integrated generation of pig waste. This has disrupted the synergy between the original manure and sewage management mode and corresponding farmland at the household level. Centralized bio-energy mode is proposed to relieve environmental pressure, increase the resource recovery efficiency and rebuild the breeding and cropping. However, there is a lack of comprehensive information on a regional scale, particularly regarding evaluation, applicability and feasibility. Therefore, compared to the individual and traditional mode at the household level, this study was conducted using life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis, systematically assessed the environmental performance and economic viability of the centralized bio-energy mode at the regional scale, and further explored the adaptability of multi-subjects (various pig farms and biogas enterprise) and regional feasibility. Results revealed that the centralized bio-energy mode appeared to be a better alternative in terms of global warming, terrestrial acidification and marine eutrophication, with the significant reductions of 49.49 %, 6.8 % and 4.67 % respectively. Moreover, the study demonstrated a substantial profit of 48.5 CNY¹ per ton of managed pig waste. Furthermore, both environmental and economic performance could be improved through scale expansion and transport optimization, with an optimal collection radius of less than 31.45 km. Conclusions clarified the potential of centralized bio-energy mode and provided valuable references for its implementation in various regions. Ultimately, further contributing to a more efficient, cost-effective, and regulated manner for resource recovery, culminating in the sustainability of pig farming and achieving environmental-friendly agriculture practices in regional contexts.

Keywords: Centralized bio-energy mode; Circular economy; Comprehensive evaluation; Integrated regional planning; Life cycle assessment; Manure & sewage management.