Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in dairy farming is a complex undertaking, situated at the intersection of agricultural practice, scientific evaluation, and the requirements of a sustainability-oriented value chain. The successful completion of the project "Greenhouse Gas Efficient Organic Milk Production" (DaFNE project no. 101729) marks an important milestone in resolving this tension and establishing practical solutions for the future.
Looking back: A hybrid approach combining research and practice
To not only theoretically postulate climate-friendly milk production but actually enable it, the project pursued a multi-stage approach. The aim was to precisely record and model the emission profiles of Austrian organic dairy farms and to develop concrete climate protection measures through cooperation between research and practice (co-innovation).
Between 2023 and 2025, 54 farms in the Lower Austrian Limestone Alps and the eastern region (Bucklige Welt and East Styrian Highlands) were monitored in detail. The scientific basis was provided by life cycle assessments (LCAs) using the FarmLife. However, the project went a step further and also implemented practical measures. Through continuous exchange between scientists, advisors, and farmers, a dynamic catalog of 69 options was developed and focused on 24 core measures that are highly relevant to practical application.
Key findings: Interpreting numbers in context
The project results demonstrate that purely financial ratios without context can lead to misinterpretations. The analyses for the years 2023 to 2025 show the following values (unweighted operating asset value):
- Product-related emissions: 1.34 (2023), 1.29 (2024) and 1.28 (2025) kg CO₂e per kg FPCM.
- Area-related emissions: 7,431 (2023), 6,995 (2024) and 7,144 (2025) kg CO₂e per hectare.
The delivery-volume-weighted averages show significantly lower figures than the farm-specific averages, as larger farms often have lower emission intensity. The model-based time series analysis (2018–2025) was revealing: while product-related emissions decreased by an average of 12% due to performance improvements per cow, area-related values rose slightly. Furthermore, the data showed that exogenous factors—such as extreme weather events during drought years or fluctuating market prices—significantly influence the balance sheet results. This underscores the need to consider climate efficiency not only as a snapshot, but as a long-term management achievement within the context of location, climate, and market.
From key performance indicator to implementation: An evidence-based concept
The project's success lies in conveying key performance indicators (KPIs) for individual farms. This was achieved by transferring these KPIs into multi-year farm dossiers and using the digital platform FarmConsult, combined with structured consulting from Bio Austria. The combination of applied research, the new digital platform, and proactive consulting significantly increased understanding and implementation rates on farms.
Outlook: Sustainability as a shared responsibility
The project's completion by no means marks the end of the efforts, but rather the laying of a new foundation. The developed tools and insights are already an indispensable building block for the future
- For consultants and businesses: The system offers clear guidance to utilize company-specific strengths and optimization potential in business management.
- For the consumer industry: In times of increasing requirements due to CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) regulations, the project provides evidence-based approaches to transparently and thoroughly map the emissions footprint along the entire value chain.
- For politics and science: The data obtained flows directly into follow-up projects, such as the "Climate Compass Agriculture", and helps to reduce mutual misperceptions between primary production and the consumer side.
The project impressively demonstrates that climate protection in the dairy industry is not merely a competition of numbers, but a coordinated joint effort by agriculture, consulting and industry based on scientific principles.
We thank all participating companies and partners for their valuable contribution to this successful project completion.
