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How dairy farmers and dairy producers learn to be more sustainable
Nitrogen, water quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are just some of the challenges dairy farmers and the dairy chain, including legislative agencies, face. Reducing the ecological footprint in the coming years requires adjustments throughout the industry. Some businesses have been successful for years, while others struggle. Fortunately, sustainability can be learned from proven examples.
Wageningen Academy, part of Wageningen University & Research, addresses many sustainability aspects in the Net Zero Daily programme.
Participants are provided with a wealth of knowledge, attractively presented, and gain insight into how businesses are successfully making their companies more sustainable.
Finally, the participants will leave the programme with a number of possible solutions they can implement within their own organisation.
Knowledge is king
Dairy farmers, producers, financiers, or policymakers have difficulty making their fields more sustainable if they lack knowledge. Hence, the Net Zero Dairy programme starts by sharing knowledge based on the participants’ entry level.
A dairy farmer may not have visited the cattle barn for a while or may know about sustainability as a concept but not in practice. Based on previous experience, we analyse what information is required to create a level playing field in terms of knowledge.
Best examples
When everyone’s level of knowledge is more or less the same, it is time to jointly discover inspiring examples. How does a multinational dairy producer implement sustainability?
And how is it possible that some smaller players surpass big corporations? Are there smart acquisition options, or can an altered perspective yield benefits? Examples are used to help participants gain insight into what solutions work.
Practical pathways to solutions
Insight and pathways to solutions are great, but ultimately, it is about the benefits for your own organisation. So, how can you, as a sustainability manager, consultant or dairy farmer, work with your teachers to create solutions for your own organisation? Through efficient milk processing, for example, circular and sustainable cattle feed and innovations in manure management.
A solution may work in a large business, but how does that impact a (small-scale) dairy farmer? Work on practicable solutions for the sustainability challenges you face together with other participants and your teachers.
Want to learn more?
Our course offers you the knowledge and tools you need. Find out more here.