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New Strategies on Handling Waste in Animal- Agriculture System for Controlling GHG Emissions

Pramod Pandey, PhD

Professor/Specialist Department of Population Health and Reproduction Department of Land, Air and Water Resources

School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California – Davis, USA

Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

Community of Practice on Food Loss and Waste (FLAW) July 30, 2025

Asia-Pacific Association of Agriculture Research Institution (APAARI)

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One Health

Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

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Animal waste and associated risks

Department of Population Health and Reproduction

8

1

Number (billion)

Human Population

Livestock Population

1.5

18.2

Waste (billion tonnes/year)

Human waste

Livestock waste

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Dairy waste production and pollution

Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

Pathogens

Mercury

Metals

Sediment

Nutrients

Low DO

pH

Impaired Biota

Temperature

PCBs

Turbidity

Pesticides

Unknown and other causes

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Animal-agriculture system impacts on rivers and streams

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Dairy waste production in California

Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

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Evolution in dairy farms in California

Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

4500

1195

252

1438

1,134,000

1,718,410

0.E+00

5.E+05

1.E+06

2.E+06

2.E+06

0

2000

4000

6000

1991

2021

Total cow numbers

Number of dairy

farms & cows/farm

No of dairy farms Cows/farm

Total cows

1.E+06

1.E+04

1.E+02

1.E+00

1.E+08

1.E+10

Total manure production (kg)

Biogas production (m3)

Heat Energy (kWh)

Electrical Energy (kWh)

Manure production (kg), Biogas

production (m3), Biogas Heat Energy Capacity (kWh), Biogas Electrical Energy Capacity (kWh)

1991 2021

Per day basis

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Industrial system Vs Pasture based animal farming

Chapter 5: Microbial Pathogens in intensive and extensive farming (Pandey et al., 2018)

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Recent projects and government funding support for improving dairies

Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

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Dairy waste handling in California

Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

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Water consumption for manure handling (2,000 cows)

  • Usually, 160-170 cows/flush lane
  • Number of lane for 2200 cows – 17 lanes
  • Number of flushing needed each day – 3 times/day
  • Duration of flushing during each event – 5 min/lane
  • Total water needed each day per cow is: 160 – 170 gallons/day/cow

Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

  • Total manure produced by lactating cows in barn = 160-180 tonnes/day
  • Total separated solid (post liquid solid separation) = 140-150 tonnes/day
  • Total liquid manure produced = 390,000-400,000 gallons/day

Investment for mechanical liquid solid separation system ≈ 500,000-750,000 USD (initial investment) Monthly electric bills ≈ 2500 -3500 USD/month

Additional expenses on operation and maintenance ≈500 – 1000 USD/month

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Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

$0.80

$0.60

$0.40

$0.20

$0.00

0

20

40

60

2017

2018

2020

2022

AMMP Fund ($/project)

AMMP funded projects

(Nos.)

2019

Years

No of Projects

$40

​

$30

​

$20

​

$10

​

$0

2017

2018

2022

AMMP funding (in $millions)

2019 2020

Years

Award ($)/project

AMMP Funding

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2015

2017

2018

2019

2020

2022

DDRDP funding (in millions)

Years

Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

​

​

DDRDP Funding

$80

$60

$40

$20

$0

$0.0

$0.5

$1.0

$1.5

$2.0

$2.5

0

10

20

30

40

50

2015

2017

2018

2019

2020

2022

DDRDP Fund ($/project)

DDRDP funded projects (Nos.)

Years

No of Projects

Award ($)/project

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Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

80,000,000

60,000,000

40,000,000

20,000,000

0

2015

CDFA funding for daity

digester projects (USD)

2017 2018

Years

Dairy digester funding

0

20,000,000

40,000,000

2015 2017

CDFA funding for

daity digester projects (USD)

Years

Alternative Manure Managment Program Funding

Recent funding from California State government

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Outreach and extension in animal-agriculture

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Food Safety Law & Enforcement

An Incredible Journey

U.S. Constitution - Federal Government

(September 17, 1787)

FDA’s modern regulatory functions started with the

passage of the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act

Goal: preventing the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated or misbranded or poisonous or deleterious foods, drugs, medicines, and liquors

1930 (FDA):modern name

Origin: 1848

Appointment of Lewis Caleb Beck to carry out chemical analysis of agricultural products

The U. S. Post Office recognized the 1906 Act as a landmark of the 20th century when it released this stamp (design is based on19th century patent medicine trading card)

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An Incredible Journey: Food Safety Law & Enforcement

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Department of Population Health and

Reproduction

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FDA’s Regulations, Punishment, and Rewards

A FDA satire cure for all…fake foods

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Most famous work - Poison Squad

In 1902 – 12 robust young men (mastermind: Harvey Washington Wiley)

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Summary/final slides [Thank you]

Wiley in lab

A fecal drying machine

Wiley and the Poison Squad

William S. Carter