Watch - Jun 29, 2022, 08:00 AM Eastern Time
Presenters
- Rafael A. Nacimento
Assessment of Brazilian commercial organic and conventional broiler production systems under an Emergy perspective
Rafael A. Nacimento1, Danny A.R. Moreno2, Vitória T. Luiz1, Taynara F.A. de Almeida1, Vanessa T. Rezende1, Biagio F. Giannetti3, and Augusto H. Gameiro1
- Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo
- Department of Zootechny, University of São Paulo
- Laboratory of Production and Environment, Paulista University
The goal of this study was to compare the performance of the commercial Brazilian broiler production, raised in organic and conventional systems from Emergy synthesis. The analysis was carried out following four steps: (i) definition, location, and data collection of broiler production units; (ii) Emergy diagram drawing; (iii) Emergy table construction; and (iv) results from assessment according to the Emergy indicators. Firstly, a representative organic broiler production unit in São Paulo state was defined according to the technical staff from a model company of organic broiler production(UPrO). Building technological information and production data were collected. From the UPrO building technological information, was located and studied a commercial broiler production unit raising in a conventional system (UPc). The system boundary was defined as the area used to raise birds (farm level), in a time window of one year. Then, the diagram was drawn using the Emergy symbol language. An Emergy table was designed with the energy flows and transformities (Tr) to each input. The energy flows were divided into renewable (R), non-renewable (N) and imported (F) resources. The F was divided according to the renewable(FR) and the non-renewable fraction(FN). The Emergy result analysis was based on the R, N, FR and FN relations. The considered indicators were: Emergy yield ratio (EYR), Environmental load ratio (ELR), and Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI). Then, ESI and global productivity (1/Tr) were used as sustainability and efficiency indicators in a graphical tool.
Keywords: Animal production, Livestock, Poultry, and Sustainability.
- Yanfeng Lyu
Integrating emergy algebra and life cycle assessment for updated UEV calculation. The case of agri-chemicals.
Yanfeng Lyu1,*, Marco Raugei2, Xiaohong Zhang1, Salvatore Mellino3, Sergio Ulgiati3,4
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University-Chengdu Campus, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, PR China
- Faulty of Technology, Design and Environment, Oxford Brookes University, Wheatley Campus, Oxford, UK;
- Department of Sciences and Technologies, Parthenope University of Naples, Centro Direzionale -Isola C4, 80143, Napoli, Italy
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100085, PR China
* Corresponding Author. E-mail: lvyanfeng1101@gmail.com
Abstract: Accurate estimates of the Unit Emergy Values (UEVs) of a range of chemicals are needed for the environmental assessment of many industrial and industrial-related processes. In the past two decades, the production of chemicals has undergone significant technological changes, and all UEVs previously calculated should be updated accordingly, rather than simply “converted” to the latest emergy baseline by using multiplicative coefficients. This study proposes the recalculation and update of UEVs by leveraging the detailed data available in life cycle assessment (LCA) databases, which provide comprehensive mass and energy inventories for all the related production stages (from raw material extraction to materials processing, manufacture, distribution, and utilization). Specifically, the UEVs of glyphosate and urea were updated in this study. In order to do so, we developed a calculation procedure capable to integrate LCA and EMergy Accounting (EMA), taking their different allocation algebra and space-time scales of application into account. Meanwhile, UEVs of intermediate process chemicals such as ammonia, acetic anhydride, formaldehyde, phosphorous chloride and sodium hydroxide are also recalculated or updated, thus providing at the same time a procedure and a set of values potentially useful for future studies.
- Corrado Giannantoni
The Maximum Em-Power Principle and The Maximum Ordinality Principle
Open a Radically New Perspective in Modern Science
Corrado Giannantoni, ex-ENEA’s Researcher (Rome). Email: corrado.giannantoni@tin.it
ABSTRACT
The present paper is finalized to show the profound difference between the Traditional Scientific Approach to the various Disciplines at present known, with respect to the New Perspective offered by The Maximum Em-Power Principle and The Maximum Ordinality Principle. So, after having synthetically recalled the historical and logical origin of such a New Perspective, the paper will present the fundamental steps that led us to the mathematical formulation of both the Maximum Em-Power Principle and the Maximum Ordinality Principle. This will also enable us to point out their corresponding and proper characteristics, which, on the one hand, will clearly Ostend what is asserted in the Title and, at the same time, they will show the logical, theoretical and operative com-possibility of adoption of the two Principles, even if with some differences, in particular, under transient conditions.
Such a com-possibility of adoption evidently refers to the case in which the two Principles are adopted separately.
In reality, by considering their Historical-Logical Origin (as shown in the first part of the paper), they are intimately related to each other. The MOP, in fact, is nothing but the re-proposition (in terms of Generative Incipient Derivatives) of the MEmPP formulated in terms of Non-Conservative Algebra.
Consequently, it is also possible, in principle, to adopt them jointly. However, not in “functional” terms, but in Ordinal Terms. In fact, in adherence to their subjacent Generative Logic, they can give origin to a Unique Ordinal Feed-Back Process of Generative Nature. That is, said in Formal terms, to a Logical Self-Organizing System of Ordinality 2/2.
In this respect, the paper presents a General Methodology for Strategic Decision in the Energy Field (understood in its broadest meaning), which is exactly based on both EMA and MOP.
The proposed Methodology offers some Significant Advantages (as specifically illustrated in the paper). Among others, that of an increased rapidity and, at the same time, a correlative higher reliability of the Strategic Decisions in the Re-qualification Process of each System analyzed, especially when the latter is characterized by a high number of Indictors.
At the same time, such a General Methodology also shows that MEmPP and MOP really “Open a Radically New Perspective in Modern Science”, because such a Radically New Perspective manifests itself, even more clearly, inside each specific Discipline. That is, not only at the general level of all the various Disciplines at present known(as shown in the first part of the paper). In other terms, not only with reference to their respective basic Principles but, especially, with reference to the specific Perspective of each Discipline on the Relationships between Man and the Environment. Perspectives that become particularly evident when they are focused in the Light of the well-known categories of “thinking, decision making and acting”.