The context
In Denmark there is an increased focus and emphasis on the environmental impact of the agricultural industry, and there is an ongoing effort to reduce not only the nitrogen emissions leading to oxygen depletion in Danish waters due to the farming itself, but also to the reduction of ammonia, dust and odour emissions from the livestock farming as well.
Both the agricultural sector and the industry supported by political ambitions and regulatory requirements struggle to achieve these goals.
There is no disagreement or discussion that the reduction of the environmental impact of the agricultural sector must come from innovations.
The challenge
The challenge for the regulators is to ensure that when issuing permits for new livestock farms is to ensure that the technologies used for e.g., the air cleaning or the housing and management systems used will in real life give the assumed environmental impact. This applies especially for new technologies and innovations, where it is crucial that the expected performance is verified.
The Danish Technology List
For the purpose of the reduction of ammonia, dust and odour emissions from livestock farming – the Danish Environmental Agency has established and manages the Danish Technology List.
The list serves as an indicative reference of techniques and technologies that have a documented environmental effect and are operationally reliable.
The technology list is used to recognise technologies that can meet the environmental requirements of an environmental approval.
The independent third party verification provides a significant technical investigation of the technology and thereby gives manufacturers, users and regulators a credible and transparent tool to make an informed decision about the use of the technology and its environmental added value and operational stability
What technologies are on the list?
- Air cleaning technologies
- Livestock housing and management systems
- Land applied manure applications
- Covers and other mitigation techniques for manure storage
- Slurry Separation
Who verifies technologies and recommends them for the list?
ETA-Danmark A/S, which is accredited verification body compliant to ISO 17020 to perform verification of environmental technologies, such as agricultural technologies, in accordance with ISO 14034.
Upon a completed verification, ETA-Danmark prepares
a recommendation to the Danish EPA to include the verified technology on the Danish Technology list.
How the verification is performed?
The process follows a relevant verification and testing protocol established for agricultural technologies under the VERA initiative (Verification of environmental technologies for agricultural production) launched between Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Flanders. The verification process can be based on one of the VERA protocols, on an ETV based on a specific verification plan or on the basis of expert assessments.