The British Dairy Roadmap, a document forming the basis for industry action on environmental sustainability, was released last week, identifying current improvements being made by the dairy sector and expectations of future achievements on environmental protection.
Among the achievements noted, three-quarters of all British dairy farms are now implementing nutrient management plans, dairy farmers are meeting an established target of using renewable energy (15% of all energy consumption), and 78% of all dairy farmers are currently taking action to reduce GHG emissions on farm.
Initiatives to address GHG emissions have focused on improving existing operational practices rather than investing in research to develop new innovative solutions, as is the case in New Zealand.
The roadmap, which is an industry collaboration between the Farmers’ Union, levy-funded Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, and trade association Dairy UK, identifies better health status and animal welfare standards as the key plank to reducing emissions along with optimised feed efficiency.
“Grazing management, improving forage quality and optimising the forage mix can all contribute to improved efficiency within the dairy system. This can substantially increase feed efficiency and production, resulting in reduced emissions”, the report said.
The UK dairy industry’s apparently lesser concern with finding solutions to moderate methane emissions reflects the declining impact of agriculture’s contribution to the UK’s overall GHG output. The UK Department of Energy & Climate Change identified a 20% fall in emissions from agriculture between 1990 and 2010. This compares with NZ Ministry for the Environment figures showing agriculture emissions in NZ increasing 14% between 1990 and 2013.
The British Dairy Roadmap is not as comprehensive as DairyNZ’s Strategy for Sustainable Dairy Farming 2013-2020, which addresses economic and social, as well as environmental sustainability.
However it is does cover issues beyond the farm gate. It has established targets to be met throughout the UK dairy supply chain by processors, and details commitments from retailers to assist in reaching these targets. This includes processor waste management plans and support to packaging initiatives that span the supply chain.
Recycling throughout the supply chain is a particular focus in the Dairy Roadmap. On-farm as well as processor recycling is given attention, with specific concern for waste materials.
“It is estimated that 35,000 tonnes of waste plastic packaging, sheeting, silage and crop films are produced by farms in England and Wales. The amount of plastic waste recycled from agriculture between 2008 and 2015 has risen by 35%, with 27% of this coming from dairy farms”.
The Dairy Roadmap targets for 2020 also have a strong recycling focus. Targets for dairy manufacturers and retailers include “50% recycled material to be used in in high density Polyethylene milk bottles, and all tertiary packaging to be reusable or recyclable”.
