Sustainable Farming Practices

The Association of Everyday Cultures conducted an online training, accredited by the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture, on “Environment friendly management in practice” for agricultural consultants and eco-managers on 25 February 2022. The online course supported one of the primary objectives of the HungAIRy LIFE integrated project to reduce emissions from agriculture. 

Agriculture is the dominant source of ammonia and particulate matter emissions. Therefore, training agricultural entrepreneur, farmers and agricultural consultants plays an important role in reducing emissions. The online training course called “Environment friendly management in practice” was aimed at those who are committed to reduce agricultural emissions. The event was the part of the HungAIRy LIFE integrated project, which aims to improve air quality in 8 Hungarian regions.

The most important objectives, achievements and planned activities of the HungAIRy project were presented on the learning course.

Dr. András Béres, the head of Laboratory Unit of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, presented the basic concepts of air protection, the major factors influencing air quality in Hungary, and detailed the pollution characteristics of ammonia and particulate matter and their impact on human health and environment. 

Arnold Szilágyi, the staff member of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management at University of Debrecen, highlighted the main factors influencing PM10 emissions from crop production, set out some options to reduce PM10 emissions and articulated the impacts of different fertilizer application methods on ammonia emissions.

In the final presentation, Dr. András Béres emphasised the key pollution characteristics of ammonia and particulate matter emissions from animal husbandry and drafted some emission reduction measures. In addition, he introduced the aims formulated in the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive (NEC Directive), including the reduction target for agriculture. In his presentation, he specifically highlighted to what extent do livestock types contribute to the total emission, and offered emission reduction options together with their economic implications.

62 participants took part in the online learning course. Audio-visual materials related to the course can be downloaded here: https://amke.hu/kornyezettudatos-gazdalkodas-gyakorlatban-eloadas-anyagok/ (in Hungarian)