Expressions of interest for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and measurement solutions on UK dairy farms

The UK Dairy Carbon Network is seeking ideas, innovations and technologies that can help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on UK dairy farms.

If you are a technology provider, innovator or entrepreneur with a scalable, practical solution, this is your chance to demonstrate the impact of your solution and collaborate with dairy farmers, researchers and industry experts.

Your innovation could play a crucial role in shaping the next phase of on-farm GHG emission mitigation. Our expert panel will assess the feasibility, impact and adoption potential of solutions and consider their inclusion in the catalogue of measures from which participating farms can select.

We are seeking solutions in the following areas

Mitigation solutions

• Feed use efficiency
• Feed quality (including forages, concentrates, fats, starches)
• Animal genetic improvement
• Animal health and fertility
• Feed additives or supplements
• Manure management (including soil health, additives, treatment, storage, capture)
• Precision farming

Measurement solutions

• Laser-based and optical detection systems
• Sensor-based and wearable technologies
• Remote sensing and drone technologies
• Atmospheric monitoring
• Farm-based automated monitoring systems
• Carbon footprinting tools

Eligibility criteria

Please consider whether your solutions address the following criteria before submission:

Basic

• Is your solution viable for UK dairy farming systems?
• Does the solution fall into one of the categories listed above? (N.B. UK Dairy Carbon Network is also looking for solutions that fall outside the categories listed above)
• Is your solution readily used in the market already or in a research environment?
• Is there a body of literature or evidence to support the efficacy of your solution?

GHG emissions

• What are the expected reductions in GHG emissions based on current evidence?
• Are the mitigation effects long-term or does the solution require continuous applications?

Co-benefits or trade-offs

• Does the solution contribute to any co-benefits including biodiversity, nutrient management, animal health, soil health or negative externalities and trade-offs?
• Will your solution affect milk yield, quality or overall farm productivity?

Regulatory

• Is your solution authorised for use?
• Does your solution comply with food safety regulations?
• Does your solution comply with environmental regulations?

Implementation

• Can your solution be readily integrated into existing farm practices?
• What expertise and skills are required to implement your solution?
• What are the costs associated with implementing and managing your solution?
• What are the projected operational savings on participating farms from your solution?

Measurement

• Can your mitigation solution be measured and monitored on dairy farms effectively?
• Are there existing tools, technologies, models or proxies available to assist with measurement and reporting?

Farm-specific

• What production system does your solution best suit?
• Are there any environmental considerations that might limit the effectiveness of your solution?

To learn more about the UK Dairy Carbon Network project and the mitigations and measurements being used in the project, please contact Work Package 2 Lead Paddy Tarbuck at paddy.tarbuck@ukagritechcentre.com