ABOUT US

Mixed crop-livestock farming was common in many areas of Europe. Nowadays, crop and livestock production are highly specialised and less connected. The consequences are, among others, high concentrations of animals in few regions, large imports of feed, simplification of crop rotations, high use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides, landscape homogenization and biodiversity loss.

Dairy production systems are an essential backbone of European agriculture, but they are particularly prone to these problems.

Circularity aims at closing the loop of resources. Context-specific (re)-integration of crop and livestock systems offers the possibility to reduce emissions and to use natural resources more efficiently. Linear approaches need to be complemented or replaced by more holistic approaches.

DairyMix is carrying out multi-criteria assessment, and developing decision support, modelling and management tools for sustainable circular mixed farming systems for dairy production.

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Young cows Norway

THE OBJECTIVES

Analysis

Identify

Develop

Assess

Refine

Implement

Establish

Identify options to increase integration of crop-livestock-forestry with reduced GHG emissions and improved environmental, economic and social sustainability
Identify trade-offs and synergies between sustainability indicators of integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems and carry out a multi-criteria assessment
Develop concepts for carbon and nutrient flows, protein self-sufficiency and improved manure nutrient utilization for characteristic farm typologies and develop concepts for carbon and nutrient circularity
Assess the status of crop-forestry integration of European dairy production systems (DPS) in key regions for characteristic farm typologies using case study farms and Eurostat data
Refine the prototype of a low cost modular barn sensor framework and install it on case study farms for online monitoring of barn climate, barn climate management, emission control and improved animal welfare
Implement the results on a long-lasting platform for dissemination and stakeholder interaction, assisting dairy farmers and extension service in improving the circularity and sustainability of their DPS and providing information for consumers and the public on key concepts for circular, low emission and sustainable a DPS in European regions
Establish an inter- and transdisciplinary long-term multi-stakeholder partnership with scientists, farmers, farm advisors, industry, consumers and policy makers at European and international level for increased efficiency of integrated crop-livestock-forestry

NEWS & EVENTS

Annual DairyMix meeting 2023 in the autumn sunshine of Milan, Italy

Events, News

DairyMix Annual Meeting in Milan: partners reviewed project progress, data collection, sustainability assessment and modeling. Field trip to cheese factory and farm for knowledge exchange. The DairyMix team at the Baronchelli Farm, October 4). Photo credits: Grete Jørgensen (NIBIO) From October 2nd to 4th, the DairyMix project gathered all partners in Milan for their Annual…

DairyMix at the XVII EAAE Congress in Rennes

Events, News

In August Mary Brennan presented the DairyMix project at the XVII EEAE Congress in Rennes, France: “Agri-food systems in a changing world: Connecting Science and Society”.   Great to see all the interest in our work on developing circularity indicators for farms! #circulareconomy #sustainability

DairyMix at the Aissaunder40 conference in Italy

dairymix, Events, News

In July, results of the DairyMix Project were presented by Serena Bonizzi (UNIMI) at the IV Conference AISSA#under40 in Fisciano (SA), Italy. This conference brought together many young researchers in agricultural sciences! AISSA: Associazione Italiana Società Scientifiche Agrarie https://www.aissaunder40.com/ #sustainableagriculture #circularity Serena and her poster titled “Circularity in livestock farming: an emerging research topic or established…