Within the food chain, agriculture often has an important share in the environmental burden. The high variability of the environmental impacts of farms with the same main production submitted to the same legislation indicates that the farmer is a key-player for an efficient environmental farm management (e.g. ¹ observed on dairy farms differences of up to factor 4 for the energy demand per kg milk). This hypothesis is now analysed more deeply.

We assess 35 meat producing farms in Switzerland using the SALCA (Swiss Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment) methodology. The analyses are carried out on the farm level and meat production branch level, i.e. beef and pork. The functional units applied are ha utilised agricultural area (UAA), MJ digestible energy, CHF gross profit and kg meat production. Every participating farmer receives a feedback with the farm results allowing him to draw conclusions for the management of his farm.

The high variability of the environmental impacts between the different farms is confirmed, with e.g. for energy demand a factor of over 15 between the farm with the highest and the one with the lowest energy demand per ha UAA. Even between farms of the same farm type there is still a factor of 3 to 5. This suggests that there is a considerable management effect. Furthermore it indicates that there is a potential for optimisation.

The important input groups differ between the assessed environmental impacts, but also vary according to the type of farm and between the farms of the same type. For eutrophication e.g., the important input groups are the fertilisation/ nutrients, the purchase of feedstuffs and animals, as well as the animal husbandry/ handling of manure.

The present variability of results between the farms underlines the necessity of a sufficient number of sampled farms for making general conclusions. Furthermore, the sample design must take the farm type into consideration. While parts of the results are linked to the farm type others are due to the farm management. Hence, identifying management options, e.g. for energy carriers, feedstuff or animal purchase, are important to lessen the environmental burden of meat producing farms.