The UK dairy sector has launched an ambitious initiative, the UK Dairy Carbon Network, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions directly on dairy farms while improving their productivity. The network brings together more than 50 dairy farms across the UK and is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The project is led by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in collaboration with AHDB.
“Farm participation is voluntary, but their involvement will allow us to gather valuable data and share best practices across the sector,” says Paul Flanagan, head of the dairy sector at AHDB. “The goal is to demonstrate that reducing emissions can go hand in hand with increased efficiency and productivity.”
How the Project Works
Selected farms will participate in a three-year pilot program to test science-based strategies for reducing emissions. These strategies include:
- reducing methane emissions in livestock,
- optimizing feed composition,
- improving animal health and disease management,
- increasing the quality and efficiency of forage use,
- more precise nutritional planning.
In addition to implementing these methods, farms will regularly share data on emissions and performance, enabling the creation of case studies and peer-to-peer events that will support other farmers across the UK.
Professor Steven Morrison from AFBI, who leads the project, notes that the farms serve as “living laboratories”: “They allow us to observe in practice how scientific methods and innovations contribute to emission reductions, while also supporting the long-term sustainability of the dairy sector.”
Significance for the Future of the Dairy Sector
The UK Dairy Carbon Network demonstrates that sustainable farming is not only an environmental goal but also a path to improving efficiency and economic resilience on farms. The project’s results will be shared with the wider industry and can serve as a practical guide for other farms aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
