About

European dairy production systems (DPS) face many challenges across the three pillars (3P) of sustainability:  economic, environmental, and social. European regions are highly diverse and complex, and region-specific concepts for DPS are required.

MilKey develops a whole system concept for 3P sustainability of dairy production systems (DPS) targeted to key European regions, it applies a multi-actor approach throughout the whole project. Greenhouse gases (GHG) mitigation is a core aim accompanied by other environmental impacts, and analysis of economic and social factors. Finally, a platform for sustainable 3P concepts for DPS in key European regions and an online barn climate and emission control tool will be available.

The MilKey platform will be a long-lasting multi-actor knowledge hub to increase understanding and knowledge of sustainable DPS and to intensify the dialogue between science, farmers, stakeholders and policy during and beyond the project lifetime. MilKey integrates a decision support system to assist making knowledgeable decisions on 3P sustainability.

Results

MilKey project will:

• Integrate all three pillars of sustainability into the assessment of European dairy production systems.
• Enable contrasting impetus to the three pillars and allow flexible concepts for key European areas.
• Visualise barn climate for optimisation and emission control, and for animal welfare monitoring.
• Enable stakeholders, farmers and politicians to make sound, knowledge-based decisions for dairy production systems in European regions.
• Inform the consumer about dairy production systems and their consequences on economy, environment, animal welfare, animal health, rural development.
• Inform and contribute to EU policy development for the future of the CAP and regulatory framework for linking agriculture and sustainability.
• Follow a true multi-actor approach by including stakeholders and farmers as key element throughout the whole project.
• Create an easy to use and long living online platform that assists stakeholder and farmers in finding sustainable solutions in their region and that informs the consumer about the key element of DPS in their region.
• Position Europe as a world-leader in sustainable dairy production systems, as a blueprint to be copied by other world regions.