Transforming dairy farms into smart bioreactors towards an autogenic bio-energetic equilibrium framework for circular and climate-resilient production systems: A perspective article

Abdel Aziz Mousa Nour

doi:10.64636/ar.52

Authors

Abdel Aziz Mousa Nour Fish and Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1048-8846

Corresponding Author

Abdel Aziz Mousa Nour

nouraziz47@gmail.com ; https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1048-8846

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64636/ar.52

Abstract

The current business model of the global dairy industry is linear, i.e., "take-make-dispose," making it structurally vulnerable to global commodity volatility and environmental degradation. In this perspective, the author presents the theory of Autogenic Bio-Energetic Equilibrium (ABEE), a new conceptual framework for the redefinition of the dairy farm from an extractive producer to a self-stabilizing, circular biorefinery. We codify the ABEE theory into the Operational Circularity Coefficient, a mathematical parameter combining metabolic efficiency, thermodynamic utilization of energy, materials, and nutrient recirculation. In addition, we integrate digital twin technology, which allows for metabolic synchronization in real time and for climate-smart resilience. Unlike additive efficiency measures, our model could show that circularity operationalized as an autonomous techno-biological system provides a conceptual framework and separates farm profitability from exogenous supply chains. Even though ABEE is still conceptual and needs to be empirically validated, it offers a structured basis to move forward with the circular dairy transformation and design dairy farming systems to be more climate resilient. This outlook offers a scientific framework for the design of future agricultural policies, specifically suggesting that the shift from output-based subsidies to Circular Integrity Credits could be a necessary step to achieve food sovereignty in the long term.

Keywords:

Autogenic Bio-Energetic Equilibrium, Circular Dairy Economy, Operational Circularity Coefficient, Digital Twin Integration, Metabolic Rift Remediation

400 182

References

Clark, M. A., Domingo, N. G. G., Colgan, K., Thakrar, S. K., Tilman, D., Lynch, J., Azevedo, I. L., & Hill, J. D. (2020). Global food system emissions could preclude achieving the 1.5 °C and 2 °C climate targets. Science, 370(6517), 705–708. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aba7357 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aba7357

FAO. (2021). The state of food and agriculture 2021, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4476en DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4476en

Ghorbani, M. (2025). Recycled nitrogen for regenerative agriculture: A review of agronomic and environmental impacts of circular nutrient sources. Agronomy, 15(11), 2503. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112503 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112503

Gerber, P. J., Steinfeld, H., Henderson, B., Mottet, A., Opio, C., Dijkman, J., Falcucci, A., & Tempio, G. (2013). Tackling climate change through livestock: A global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/3/i3437e/i3437e.pdf

Herrero, M., Thornton, P. K., Mason-D’Croz, D., Palmer, J., Benton, T. G., Bodirsky, B. L., Pradhan, P., Bonnett, G. D., Bryan, B. A., Campbell, B. M., Christensen, S., Clark, M., Fanzo, J., Godde, C. M., Gerber, J. S., Hall, A., Hamilton, H., Henry, R. C., ... Rockström, J. (2020). Innovation can accelerate the transition towards a sustainable food system. Nature Food, 1(5), 266–272. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-0074-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-0074-1

IPCC. (2019). Climate change and land: An IPCC special report. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. https://www.ipcc.ch/

Leong, H. Y., Chang, C.-K., Khoo, K. S., Chew, K. W., Chia, S. R., Lim, J. W., Chang, J.-S., & Show, P. L. (2021). Waste biorefinery towards a sustainable circular bioeconomy: A solution to global issues. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 14, 87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-021-01939-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-021-01939-5

Li, X., Feng, M., Ran, Y., Su, Y., Liu, F., & Huang, C. (2023). Toward digital twins in Earth system science. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 4, 319–332. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00421-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00409-w

Pretty, J., Benton, T. G., Bharucha, Z. P., Dicks, L. V., Flora, C. B., Godfray, H. C. J., Goulson, D., Hartley, S., Lampkin, N., Morris, C., Pierzynski, G., Prasad, P. V. V., Reganold, J., Rockström, J., Smith, P., Thorne, P., & Wratten, S. (2018). Global assessment of agricultural system redesign for sustainable intensification. Nature Sustainability, 1, 441–446. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0114-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0114-0

Rockström, J., Gupta, J., Qin, D., Lade, S. J., Abrams, J. F., Andersen, L. S., Armstrong McKay, D. I., Bai, X., Bala, G., Bunn, S. E., Ciobanu, D., DeClerck, F., Ebi, K., Gifford, L., Gordon, C., Hasan, S., Kanie, N., Lenton, T. M., Loriani, S., ... Zimm, C. (2023). Safe and just Earth system boundaries. Nature, 619, 102–111. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06083-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06083-8

Rojas-Downing, M. M., Nejadhashemi, A. P., Harrigan, T., & Woznicki, S. A. (2017). Climate change and livestock: Impacts, adaptation, and mitigation. Climate Risk Management, 16, 145–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2017.02.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2017.02.001

Searchinger, T. D., Wirsenius, S., Beringer, T., & Dumas, P. (2018). Assessing efficiency of food production systems. Science, 360(6392), 987–992. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0216 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0216

Steffen, W., Richardson, K., Rockström, J., Cornell, S. E., Fetzer, I., Bennett, E. M., Biggs, R., Carpenter, S. R., de Vries, W., de Wit, C. A., Folke, C., Gerten, D., Heinke, J., Mace, G. M., Persson, L. M., Ramanathan, V., Reyers, B., & Sörlin, S. (2015). Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet. Science, 347(6223), 1259855. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1259855 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1259855

Tadele, E., Worku, D., Yigzaw, D., Muluneh, T., & Melese, A. (2025). Precision of dairy farming: Navigating challenges and seizing opportunities for sustainable dairy production in Africa. Frontiers in Animal Science, 6, 1541838. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2025.1541838 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2025.1541838

UNEP. (2022). Emissions gap report 2022. United Nations Environment Programme https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2022

Purcell, W., Neubauer, T., & Mallinger, K. (2023). Digital Twins in agriculture: challenges and opportunities for environmental sustainability. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 61, 101252. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2022.101252

Zhang, X., Davidson, E. A., Mauzerall, D. L., Searchinger, T. D., Dumas, P., & Shen, Y. (2015). Managing nitrogen for sustainable agriculture. Nature, 528, 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature15743 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature15743

Type: Perspective article

Transforming dairy farms into smart bioreactors towards an autogenic bio-energetic equilibrium framework for circular and climate-resilient production systems: A perspective article

Authors

Corresponding Author

DOI:

Abstract

Keywords:

References

View and Download

Downloads

Published

Competing Interest

Data Availability Statement

Issue

Section

Categories

License

How to Cite

Share

Downloads

Similar Articles

Journal Highlights

Discovery and Databases

Digital Preservation

Animal Reports’ Commitment to Long-Term Digital Preservation

Keywords

Reviewer Credits

Browse