The latest data indicate a gradual reduction in the environmental impact of livestock production and the adoption of more effective technologies for manure management and the use of organic fertilisers.
In 2024, ammonia emissions directly associated with Spain’s livestock sector fell by 2.3% year on year.
Compared with 2005, which is used as the baseline year under the National Emission Ceilings Directive, the reduction has reached 17.6%.
Lower Emissions from Manure and Organic Fertilisers
One of the main factors behind the positive trend has been a reduction in emissions associated with manure management.
According to the available data, emissions in this area decreased by 14.9%.
Emissions related to the application of organic fertilisers fell by a further 2.1%. This category also includes emissions generated by grazing livestock.
Manure management, including its storage, treatment and application to fields, is one of the key sources of ammonia emissions in livestock production. The introduction of modern technologies in this area therefore offers significant potential for reducing the sector’s environmental impact.
Spain Meets European Commitments for the Fourth Consecutive Year
Overall, ammonia emissions in Spain declined by 13% between 2005 and 2024.
The country has now met its emission reduction commitments under the relevant European directive for the fourth year in a row.
Moreover, according to the data, the reduction achieved is around four times greater than the level required to meet the targets for any year during the 2020–2030 period.
These figures are seen as evidence of the gradual improvement in the environmental sustainability of Spain’s livestock sector.
Data Collected Directly at Farm Level
The emissions data are included in the Spanish Emissions Inventory System (SEI) and were published in the 2026 National Inventory of Atmospheric Pollutants, covering the period from 1990 to 2024.
To calculate the livestock sector’s environmental impact more accurately, the system incorporates information on nitrogen balance as well as the implementation of Best Available Techniques (BAT) in intensive pig and poultry production.
The Ecogan digital system plays a particularly important role in this process.
Information is collected individually for each farm. Data are submitted by farm owners and then forwarded by the competent authorities of the autonomous communities to the central ministry.
As a result, the national inventory relies not only on general statistical models, but also on actual data regarding technologies and emission-reduction methods used at individual farms.
Focus on Pig and Poultry Production
The Ecogan system is particularly important for intensive pig and poultry production, where the use of Best Available Techniques is one of the key tools for reducing ammonia emissions.
These include technologies related to manure management, storage and application, as well as other production solutions capable of reducing nitrogen losses to the atmosphere.
Improvements to Ecogan have made it possible to account more accurately for the specific emission-reduction technologies used by farms across the country and to assess their actual impact on the livestock sector’s overall environmental performance.
Spain Improves Farm-Level Emissions Assessment
Improvements in digital reporting, combined with the efforts of producers and the competent authorities of the autonomous regions, have increased the accuracy of the data included in the national inventory.
As a result, Spain has developed one of the most detailed systems for estimating livestock emissions at individual farm level.
This approach makes it possible not only to monitor compliance with national targets, but also to assess the actual impact of farm modernisation and the implementation of specific emission-reduction technologies.
The 17.6% reduction in ammonia emissions compared with 2005 demonstrates that the environmental transformation of livestock production increasingly depends not only on regulatory requirements, but also on accurate data collection, digitalisation and the practical adoption of more efficient production technologies.
PigUA.info, based on materials from euromeatnews.com