Conference Agenda

Thirty percent of the agricultural sector's water footprint is linked to livestock farming. At the same time, droughts are changing the availability of crops for animal feed. Using less water-intensive raw materials such as sorghum or triticale instead of maize is one way of reducing the water footprint of livestock farming and thus helping to conserve this resource. In this study, we compared the effect of a control feeding strategy and the effect of a feeding strategy with a low water footprint on pigs. A total of 12 Pietrain x (Large White x Landrace) entire males (mean body weight: 40±5 kg) were used in this study and received one of the two experimental diets (n=6 per experimental diet). Digestibility cages were used to measure nutrient intake, water intake, growth performance, and slurry production during 14 days. We observed no significant differences between the two groups of animals in terms of the following criteria: feed intake (1895g, P>0.05), average daily gain (914g, P>0.05), and amount of manure produced (5414g, P>0.05) per pig per day. In conclusion, taking into account the water footprint of raw materials when formulating eco-friendly feed is an effective way of reducing the environmental impact of pig farming systems.

In this paper conventional chemical crop protection methods and innovative alternatives designed to reduce chemical drift and ecosystem toxicity are compared. The approaches analyzed are UV-C radiation, a physical treatment, and an ozone-based “intermediate solution”, where ozone is generated on-site and in real time through physical processes and then applied as a chemical agent against pathogens.

Each method presents strengths and weaknesses. To provide a comprehensive evaluation, the study combines Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA), allowing environmental, economic, and operational performances to be assessed together and supporting informed decision-making.

A major challenge identified is the need for more frequent treatments without pesticides to maintain plant health and productivity. Although this strategy reduces ecosystem toxicity, it leads to higher fossil fuel consumption, increased operating costs, and greater labor requirements. To mitigate these impacts, the study proposes solutions such as electric propulsion systems and the integration of automation technologies, including robotic applications, to enhance sustainability and overall efficiency.

This study presents the development of a synthetic Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) method for the agrifood sector based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the Agri-balyse database. The objective is to derive a statistically grounded environmental intensity indicator that avoids subjective weighting schemes and reflects the empirical structure of Environmental Footprint (EF 3.0) impact categories. A dataset of 286 agrifood products characterized by 16 impact indicators was analyzed. Results reveal a strong correlation structure among most categories, with the first principal component explaining 68.6% of total variance. This dominant component captures a general environmental intensity gradient, integrating climate change, resource use, toxicity, acidification, and particulate emissions into a single latent dimension. The proposed synthetic index is constructed using the scores of the first principal component, providing an objective and data-driven measure of overall environmental intensity. Because the PCA structure is calibrated on a comprehensive and expandable database, the method is inherently dynamic and can adapt as new product data are incorporated. This approach offers a transparent, scalable alternative to conventional weighting sets and supports robust product comparison and decision-making within the agrifood sector.

African agroecological systems play a critical role in food security and cli-mate resilience, yet assessments of crop production and residue management remain scarce. This study evaluates the carbon footprint of major African crops (maize, sorghum, millet and rice) and the environmental implications of residue valorization into bioenergy pellets and bio-based construction bricks. LCA was conducted in accordance with ISO 14040/14044. Crop pro-duction is assessed from soil preparation to harvest (cradle-to-farm gate), with results expressed in kg CO2-eq per kg of product using the IPCC 2021 GWP100 method. Residue management is analyzed through a comparative LCA of three scenarios: (i) conventional practices (open burning), (ii) pellet production for thermal energy substitution, and (iii) incorporation into com-pressed bio-based bricks. Functional units are 1 kg of harvested crop and 1 kg of treated residue. Field data from African farms are combined with es-tablished LCI databases. Results show that fertilizer inputs and fuel use dom-inate crop emissions, while residue valorization reduces net emissions via fossil fuel displacement and substitution of conventional construction mate-rials. This study proposes an agroecological-circular framework supporting climate mitigation, resource efficiency, and Nature-based Solutions in Afri-can agricultural systems.

This study evaluated biochar effects on greenhouse-grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) at laboratory and pilot scale, integrating visual measurements with proximal sensing. Four standard biochars produced at 550°C from soft-wood, wheat-straw, sewage sludge, and rice husk were tested. Three independent greenhouse trials were conducted across different seasons (November 2024–July 2025) at both lab and pilot scale. At pilot scale, plants were inoculated at transplanting with 10⁵ conidia/mL of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae. At harvest, leaf number, chlorophyll content, and fresh and dry biomass were assessed, and disease incidence and disease severity were evaluated to determine Fusarium wilt. A low-cost multispectral system continuously acquired data to derive NDVI for non-destructive monitoring. Biochar generally enhanced plant growth: in Test 1, fresh biomass increased by +46±0.5% (lab) and +32±0.3% (pilot); in Test 2, gains were recorded at lab scale (+51.9±2.6%) but decreases occurred at pilot scale (–13.9±5.2%); in Test 3, biomass was unchanged compared to control at lab scale, but rose by +46.9±0.4% at pilot scale. Inoculation assays revealed that Fusarium wilt reduction in biochar-amended plants depended on biochar type and rate. Overall, biochar improved key agronomic characteristics, while NDVI trend provided complementary non-destructive information.