Launched in 2021 by Prolactal, a producer of dried milk and whey products, this five-year project aims to develop greenhouse gas reduction options for organic dairy farms in Austria. Starting with a selection of 14 pilot farms, which will be expanded to approximately 65 farms over the course of the project, greenhouse gas emissions will be recorded and analyzed over several years (2021-2025). Reduction options will be implemented on these farms, and the resulting reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be compared to a modeled baseline year (2018). NÖM (Niederösterreichische Molkerei), one of the largest dairy companies in Austria, and Bio-Austria are other key project partners. As a collecting cooperative and processing plant, NÖM supports the selection of farms as well as communication and consulting. The Bio-Austria association has participated in the project as an educational partner since 2023, contributing to the selection and implementation of mitigation options through expert advice and educational events. Following the value chain, Nestlé Konolfingen, as a purchaser of Prolactal's dried milk and whey products, is also involved in the project.
Representatives from all project partners attended this year's project meeting. During the two-day meeting, project-specific topics were discussed in depth, and there was also time for tours of the research institute. In addition to visiting the stables and learning about exciting research projects from the Livestock Institute, participants also visited the Moarhof farm to gain insights into the world of organic grassland research. From the crop production sector, the ClimGrass project – climate impact research in grassland – was presented.
