What are the social costs and benefits of lignite application to reduce ammonia emissions in intensive feedlot?

Abstract

Recent studies demonstrated that lignite application in feedlot can mitigate ammonia (NH3) emission from intensive livestock production, which is an important source of environmental pollution. However, the use of lignite on feedlot requires mining and transport of lignite, which are themselves sources of greenhouse gas and other gaseous pollutants. There is a need for an integrated assessment on the gas emissions to determine the potential impact of those additions to the production chain. Using a case study in Victoria, Australia, carbon dioxide (CO2) and NH3 were identified as key emission changes compared to business as usual (BAU). Social costs and benefits analysis indicated that these..