Biological Systems Engineering
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Horacio Aguirre-Villegas

Position title: Scientist III

Email: aguirreville@wisc.edu

Horacio Aguirre-Villegas

Program Affiliations

  • Biological Systems Engineering

Education and Certificates

  • B.S. – Industrial Engineering, Universidad Católica Boliviana
  • M.S. – Industrial Management, Universidad Ramón Llull
  • Ph.D – Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Fields of Interest

  • Bio-energy
  • Life cycle assessment
  • Anaerobic digestion
  • Waste management

Publications

Journal Publications

  • Hu Y, Scarborough M, Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson RA, Noguera DR, and Zavala VM, 2018, A supply chain framework for the analysis of the recovery of biogas and fatty acids from organic waste, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b04932
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Passos-Fonseca T, Reinemann DJ, and Larson R, 2017, Grazing intensity affects the environmental impact of dairy systems, Journal of Dairy Science, 100:6804-6821, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-12325
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA and Benson CH, 2017, Case history of environmental impacts of an Indonesian coal supply chain, Journal of Cleaner Production, 157:47-56 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.232
  • Holly MA, Larson RA, Powell MJ, Ruark MD, and Aguirre-Villegas HA, 2017, Greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from digested and separated dairy manure during storage and after land application, Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 239:410-419, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.02.007
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA and Larson R., 2017, Evaluating greenhouse gas emissions from dairy manure management practices using survey data and lifecycle tools. Journal of Cleaner Production, 143:169-179
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson R, and Reinemann DJ, 2015, Effects of management and co-digestion on life cycle emissions and energy from anaerobic digestion. Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, 5:603-621, DOI: 10.1002/ghg.1506
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Passos-Fonseca T, Reinemann DJ, Armentano L, Wattiaux M, Cabrera V, Norman J, and Larson R, 2015, Green cheese: Partial life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions and energy intensity of integrated dairy production and bioenergy systems. Journal of Dairy Science, 98:1571-1592, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.3168/jds.2014-8850
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson R, and Reinemann DJ, 2014, From waste-to-worth: Energy, emissions, and nutrient implications of manure processing pathways, Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, 8:770-793, DOI: 10.1002/bbb
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Milani FX, Kraatz S, Reinemann DJ, 2012, Life cycle impact assessment and allocation methods development for cheese and whey processing, Transactions of the ASABE, 55(2):613-627
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA and Benson C. 2015. Sustainability assessment of coal mining, processing, and distribution PT Adaro Energy Tbk. Sustainability Report No. OS-15-01
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA and Larson R, 2013, From waste-to-energy: Life-cycle assessment of anaerobic digestion systems, Waste to Worth: Spreading Science and Solutions Proceedings, Cooperative Extension
  • Aguirre-Villegas H, Kraatz S, Milani F, Newenhouse A, Passos-Fonseca T, Reinemann D, 2011. Understand the Carbon Footprint of Cheese: Sustainable Cheese Production. University of Wisconsin Extension Publication A3934
  • Reinemann DJ, Passos-Fonseca T, Aguirre-Villegas HA, 2011, Green Cheese: Energy Intensity and Environmental Impact of integrated Dairy and Bio-Energy Systems in Wisconsin, Toolkit, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Passos-Fonseca T, Aguirre-Villegas HA, Reinemann DJ, Armentano LE, Cabrera V, and Norman J., 2010, Green cheese: LCA of energy intensity and GHG emissions of integrated dairy/bio-fuels systems in Wisconsin, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (Technical Paper 1008719)

Extension Publications

  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Ruark MD, and Larson RA, 2018, Nitrogen cycling in soils within a dairy production system, UWEX A4131-11, GWQ 083
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson RA, and Ruark MD, 2018, Managing manure nitrogen to reduce losses, UWEX A4131-10, GWQ 082
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Wattiaux MA, Larson RA, Chase L, Ranathunga SD, and Ruark MD, 2018, Dairy cow nitrogen efficiency, UWEX A4131-09, GWQ 081
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson RA, Ruark MD, Liang D, Wattiaux MA, Chase L, and Cabrera V, 2017, Mitigation of enteric methane emissions from dairy cows, UWEX A4131-08, GWQ 080
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson RA, Ruark MD, Liang D, Wattiaux MA, Chase L, and Cabrera V, 2017, Enteric methane emissions from dairy cows: Accounting techniques, UWEX A4131-07, GWQ 079
  • Larson RA, Aguirre Villegas HA, Skjolaas C, Shutske J, Nelson J, Schauer J, and Erb K, 2017, Reducing risks from manure storage agitation gases, UWEX A4131-06, GWQ 078
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson RA, and Ruark MD, 2017, Greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from dairy manure management systems, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Publication Numbers: UWEX A4131-05, GWQ 077
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson RA, and Ruark MD, 2017, Solid-liquid separation of manure and effects on greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Publication Numbers: UWEX A4131-04, GWQ 076
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson RA, and Ruark MD, 2017, Manure agitation, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Publication Numbers: UWEX A4131-03, GWQ 075
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson RA, and Ruark MD, 2016, Dairy anaerobic digestion systems and their impact on greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Publication Numbers: UWEX A4131-02, GWQ 074
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Larson RA, and Ruark MD, 2016, Methane emissions from dairy cattle, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Publication Numbers: UWEX A4131-01, GWQ 073
  • Aguirre-Villegas HA, Kraatz S, Milani F, Newenhouse A, Passos-Fonseca T, Reinemann D, 2011, Understand the carbon footprint of cheese, University of Wisconsin-Extension, USDA, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, Publication Number: UWEX A3934

Selected Awards

  • Educational Aids Blue Ribbon Awards, 2018, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)

Expertise Summary

Dr. Aguirre-Villegas research interests lie at the intersection of bio-energy, climate change, waste management and agricultural systems. In particular he focuses on evaluating the sustainability of agricultural and food production systems and their integration with bio-energy systems using life cycle assessment (LCA) tools to pinpoint areas of improvement. Some of his current research projects include the Sustainable Dairy Project (Dairy CAP), awarded by the USDA-NIFA where he is part of the LCA and extension teams with the objective of conducting targeted research, education, and extension in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation in dairy production. In addition, he has installed small scale anaerobic digestion systems to produce biogas for cooking and electricity generation in Pando, Bolivia.