The relationship between agriculture and the environment is a central issue of the EU, and it gives an important support to farming and livestock holdings. In fact, the EU environment programmes try to pursue the integration of habitat concerns. In the same way, the Lombardy region has funded several research projects in this sector. Among these projects, the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano has developed two studies, Agrengest and NiLo. The research carried out by NiLo is particularly significant in order to the management of livestock manure in the communities, and in its possible use in the energy supply chain. The goal is to provide analysis tools to the different actors involved. Finally, the acquisition of knowledge will enable them to deal the production alternatives (in implementation of environmental rules), as well as to maintain in Lombardy the income from farming.

The project is funded by Regione Lombardia, and Mantova, Cremona, and Lodi provinces. The partners are: Fondazione Politecnico di Milano; Dipartimento di Economia e Politica Agraria Agro-Alimentare e Ambientale dell'Università degli Studi di Milano; Dipartimento di Ingegneria Idraulica, Ambientale, Infrastrutture viarie e Rilevamento del Politecnico di Milano; Cooperativa Agricola 2000.