Global Alliance Will Promote Regenerative Agriculture

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:01:51 GMT

Eight agricultural companies will be part of Farming for Generations, a global collaboration to support dairy farmers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices that preserve and renew environmental resources, respect animal welfare and ensure the long-term economic viability of farms for the next generation.

Recognizing that the food system needs to change to address a range of environmental and health challenges, the alliance is convinced that agriculture is a solution, and that dairy farming specifically has a key role to play in building the sustainable food systems of tomorrow.

Led by Danone, Farming for Generations draws on the expertise of leaders from the agricultural value chain: animal health and welfare companies MSD Animal Health, Neogen and FutureCow; animal nutrition and health company DSM; crop nutrition company Yara; crop science company Corteva Agriscience; and artificial intelligence agri-food start-up Connecterra. Netherlands-based Wageningen University and Research, will be a research and advisory partner. WWF (World Wildlife Fund) France, a national organization in the WWF Network, will also provide guidance to help the project reach its goals.

Farming for Generations will initially work hand-in-hand with 25 dairy farms in the USA, EU and Russia to identify best practice solutions and innovations across different farming models, farm sizes and geographies. Viable and replicable solutions will be shared and scaled up within the full network of the alliance partners.

People are increasingly conscious of the environmental and social impacts of their food choices. New scientific studies are working to define “sustainable diets” that can provide healthy and nutritious food to the growing world population while respecting environmental limits. Regenerative agriculture has a lead role to play in delivering this ambition, by protecting soil, water and biodiversity; respecting animal welfare; and empowering farmers.

Farming for Generations will help identify and scale up solutions across the farming system: growing
feed, choosing the best animals for breeding programs, nurturing and rearing animals, and
producing milk. It will explore regenerative agricultural practices that seek to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, protect soil and biodiversity while providing the best quality feed for dairy cows; support
animal health and wellbeing, ensuring cows have a healthy, stress-free life; and empower farmers
with workable solutions to economic, social and environmental challenges.

Over the next three years, the alliance will gather cross-sector insights, refine best practices and
develop new approaches, which will be shared in a practical toolbox. Farmers will be involved each
step of the way, ensuring that practices are viable and suited to local geographies.

It Is Possible To Select For Lower Methane Production

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:02:58 GMT

The identification and control of greenhouse gases (GHG) is a key part of sustainability. An assessment of where GHGs originate shows that enteric emissions from the cow make up a significant part of total on-farm GHG production, along with manure storage and feed production.

A recent study by researchers in the U.K (Breider, Wall and Garnsworthy) showed that it is possible to select for cows that have lower methane production. In the study methane production from 184 Holstein cows was measured during robot milking over a four-month period. Milk yield and body weight measurements were also obtained.

Heritability for methane production ranged from 0.12 to 0.45, while milk yield ranged from 0.49 to 0.54.

“The positive genetic correlation between methane production and milk yield indicates that care needs to be taken when genetically selecting for lower methane production to avoid a decrease in milk yield,” researchers say. “However, this study shows that methane production is moderately heritable and therefore progress through genetic selection is possible.”

To read the full research study, click here .

Manure and Nutrient Management

Global Alliance Will Promote Regenerative Agriculture

It Is Possible To Select For Lower Methane Production