Started in 2021 and launched by Prolactal, a manufacturer of milk and dry whey products, this five-year project aims to develop greenhouse gas reduction options for organic dairy farms in Austria. Starting from a selection of 14 pilot companies, which will be expanded to around 65 companies over the course of the project, greenhouse gas emissions will be recorded and analyzed over several years (2021-2025). Reduction options are implemented in these operations, with the resulting reduction in greenhouse gas emissions being compared to a modeled base year (2018). NÖM (Niederösterreichische Molkerei), one of the largest dairy companies in Austria, and Bio-Austria are other key project participants in the research project. As a collecting cooperative or processing company, NÖM supports the selection of companies as well as communication and advice. The Bio-Austria association has been taking part in the project as an educational partner since 2023 and is involved in the selection and implementation of reduction options through expert advice and in the form of educational events. Following the value chain, Nestlé Konolfingen is also involved in the project as a buyer of Prolactal's milk and dry whey products.
Representatives of all project participants took part in this year’s project meeting. During the two-day meeting, not only were project-specific topics discussed intensively, but there was also space for tours of the research institute. In addition to visiting the stables and presenting exciting research projects at the Livestock Institute, we also visited the Moarhof 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.
