Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with livestock supply chains add up to 7.1 gigatonnes (GT) of carbon dioxide
equivalent (CO2-eq) per year – or 14.5 percent of all human-caused GHG release. The main sources of emissions are: feed
production and processing (45 percent of the total), outputs of GHG during digestion by cows (39 percent), and manure
decomposition (10 percent). The rest can be attributed to the processing and transportation of animal products. Broader use
of existing best practices and innovative technologies in animal production can significantly help the industry reduce outputs
of global warming gases. According to a new study published today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector can be reduced by up to 30 percent with wider use of current best
practices and technologies.
Currently, there is no cooperation between Turkish and European universities on the fight against climate change, the
European Green Deal and EU policies. This project will be a first in its field in the fight against climate change by reducing
the effect of greenhouse gases through the use of smart technologies in livestock production. Because it is possible to
reduce the effect of greenhouse gases caused by animal husbandry with new smart technologies. With this project,
university students will be given courses with smart livestock applications and they will be provided with experience on the
subject by going to European universities.
Türkiye is an important agricultural country. Livestock activity occupies an important place in agricultural production. Half of
the land is agricultural, employing 18% of the workforce, and providing 10% of exports, and 7% of GDP in 2020. There are
half a million farmers. Türkiye is a major producer of wheat, sugar beets, milk, poultry, cotton, tomatoes, and other fruits and
vegetables. As of 2022, there are 20 million cattle and 60 million sheep and goats. Türkiye, a candidate country for the
European Union and the EU has prerequisites for candidate countries. The candidate country must have a functioning
market economy and the capacity to cope with competition and market forces in the EU. The modernization and integration
of agricultural production is one of them. Türkiye received a total of 801 million euros from this program between 2014 and
2020.
Türkiye does not have sufficient knowledge and equipment on the EU's Green Deal, climate change and its
implementations. This will cause difficulties in Türkiye's integration with the EU. In order to overcome these deficiencies, it is
necessary to explain and teach the EU livestock farming policies and practices in an effective and effective way. Through
this project, the EU's smart technological applications in livestock farming will be explained to the students and young
researchers in the relevant faculties of Turkish universities, thereby raising awareness.