NI dairy sector to discuss using farm data to boost sustainability

The EU Sustainable Dairy Symposium is part of a multi-country European Milk Forum promotion programme to highlight the positive role of the dairy sector for climate action and the environment.

One of the event highlights will be a discussion panel with the three CEOs of Northern Ireland’s largest dairy co-operatives Dale Farm, Glanbia Cheese and Lakeland Dairies who will underline the importance of on farm sustainability to their own businesses. They will also speak about their sustainability plans, how they are working with farmers to tackle climate change and the role that data collection will play in helping market Northern Ireland dairy produce to local and international customers.

Board Member of the Dutch Farmers Organization Wilco Brouwer de Koning will give a snapshot of the work being undertaken on his own dairy farm and the work being undertaken in the Netherlands to improve biodiversity.

DAERA Permanent Secretary Katrina Godfrey will provide a policy update from the Department.

Speaking ahead of the event, Dairy Council CEO, Dr Mike Johnston MBE said: “The Northern Ireland dairy sector has made significant strides in recent years to decarbonise farm and processing businesses, and this has put our produce on a sound footing for providing valuable dairy products for the local market and grow the sector to compete on the world stage.

“Many of the existing carbon reduction techniques such as low emission slurry spreading, energy saving and renewable energy technologies have become more commonplace on dairy farms and this has contributed to major savings over the last 32 years.

"DAERA figures released last week (20th October) show that since 1990 the carbon intensity per litre of milk have reduced 36.9%.

“The next stage in the dairy sustainability journey will be to capture the carbon emission data on a farm by farm basis to allow management decisions to be made tailored for their own farm.”

A number of dairy farmers have already been participating in carbon modelling initiatives such as the ARCzero carbon neutral acceleration programme and local dairy farmers Hugh Harbison, Ian McClelland and former Dairy Council Chair Mark Blelock will participate in a discussion panel with Wilco.

The event is taking place at the Dunadry Hotel, Templepatrick, from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday 8th November with registration open from 10.30am and lunch being served at 1:00pm.

Booking will be essential, so anyone in the dairy sector wishing to attend should email Philip Kennedy on [email protected].

To view the existing sustainability information from the dairy sector, visit the Dairy Council NI website www.dairycouncil.co.uk.