Online One-Stop-Shop Launched for Improving Manure Management

The newly launched Manure Knowledge Kiosk offers resources, knowledge and connections accessible online to support improved manure management. Good manure management is essential in recycling nutrients and organic matter for healthy and productive soils. It enhances food security while reducing emissions to the environment. The Kiosk offers to all stakeholders in the livestock sector a one-stop-shop to support and technical services. Developed as part of Livestock and Manure Management Component of the Agriculture Initiative supported by the CCAC, the platform aims to facilitate integrated practice change in manure management sector.

Manure is a valuable source of crop nutrients, organic matter and renewable energy. Good manure management also reduces methane emissions bringing many benefits, such as maintaining soil healthy and improving crop production. Especially the increase of landless livestock farms is a growing concern, since they disconnect livestock production from crop production. Proper manure management is key to maintain soil healthy and to increase productivity; hence it is crucial in improving food security while contributing to energy production. Integrated manure management is essential in all livestock systems because it ensures an optimal use of these sources and prevents environmental problems at the same time.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and a precursor of ground-level ozone, which adversely affects air quality, public and ecosystem health. Therefore reducing methane emissions also helps tackle climate change and air pollution. Yet despite its importance, manure is often poorly managed and as a consequence, nutrients and organic matter are lost, causing environmental and climate problems as well as public health issues.

The Kiosk focuses on providing support to countries, projects and practitioners to help them in improving manure management. The online platform allows them to access an international library or relevant resources, expert directory for assistance, follow latest examples of actual practice change from the field, as well as use Livestock GEO-wiki, which offers the possibility to assess the impact of manure management changes on global, regional and local scale through various data modules.

The online platform development has been led by Wageningen UR Livestock Research in close cooperation with Livestock and Manure Management Component partners.