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FARMER

Targets

The Dairy Roadmap has been instrumental in helping farmers and processors reduce the environmental impact of milk production, while ensuring that changes are realistic, and align with producing quality dairy foods. 

The Roadmap has a new set of targets to help farmers meet legally binding demands, including: Net Zero by 2050, a 10% increase in wildlife populations by 2042 and 50% per capita waste reduction by 2042. 

Water

In 2022 the UK’s driest summer for 50 years had a huge impact on water security, causing exceptionally low river flows, groundwater levels and reservoir stores. This was a call to action: we need to better manage our resources and understand our water usage. 

Dairy farming is a significant contributor to diffuse water pollution and agriculture, and alongside the water companies, we must clean up our act.

Targets

  • Zero serious pollution incidents per year by 2030
  • All dairy farms following Best Practice for wastewater by 2026
  • Systems to evaluate water usage in place by 2025
  • Processors to assess water risk in supply chains by 2024, engaging with catchment level projects in high-risk sourcing areas, monitor catchment status, and reach sustainable status

Climate Change and Energy

Setting realistic standards and targets around reaching Net Zero within the dairy industry requires a wealth of data, including data on carbon footprints – but we don’t currently have the full picture of carbon loss and emissions across the industry. 

Completing this picture is a complex ask, which requires robust tools and government funding. However, the industry is well on its way towards this – and we must continue the trajectory. 

Targets

  • Undertake carbon footprint calculations at least every three years
  • Discussing carbon footprint results with an advisor and develop a plan in line with at least a 3% reduction in emission intensity (kg CO2e/kg FPCM) per year until 2030, with a 2023 baseline. This may be revised as more data becomes available
  • Share carbon footprint information with the Dairy Roadmap by 2024
  • Share renewable energy data with the Dairy Roadmap by 2025
  • 100% renewable electricity usage by 2030 (home produced and renewable tariffs)
  • All farmers to undertake actions which help improve data on farm efficiency, animal health and welfare by 2030, using systems such as milk recording, genetic testing and bulk milk sampling

Waste & Recycling

Environmental contamination is a huge concern for policymakers and consumers, and farms can play a big part in this owing to their rural location and proximity to fresh water. However, farm plastics are often difficult to recycle due to type, colour, and contamination.

Targets

  • 100% of non-natural waste is recycled or recovered as standard by 2030

Soils

Leaching from agricultural land is a major contributor to poor water quality. All farmers should know and actively manage soil to prevent pollution and boost soil organic matter. 

Targets

  • Measure NPK and pH every two years, and soil organic matter at least every five years, from 2024
  • Assess NPK balance at least every two years
  • Develop and follow a nutrient management plan, with evidence of improvement

Biodiversity

The UK is suffering from biodiversity loss, and agriculture is widely understood to have a key role in reversing this process. The British public care deeply about biodiversity, so the dairy industry must show understanding, progress and leadership.  

Targets

  • Engage with the Dairy Roadmap biodiversity strategy by 2030
  • Monitor biodiversity on at least 50% of UK dairy farms by 2030
  • Share evidence of continuous improvement to on-farm biodiversity, in line with government targets to increase wildlife populations by at least 10% by 2042

Air Quality

Dairy operations can affect air quality through emissions of gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulphide as well as particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and odour. Together, these pollutants significantly harm human health and sensitive habitats. 

Targets

  • All new slurry systems must be designed to minimise emissions
  • Low emission slurry spreading techniques must be adopted by 2027 (for example by injection, trailing shoe, or trailing hose)

Further reading

ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE

A commitment to health on dairy farms.

BIODIVERSITY

Read what we have in place and how we implement it

CARBON FOOTPRINT AND ENERGY

Read about dairy farming and its carbon footprint

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

Focusing on feed and the environment

WATER

Looking in depth at water efficiency methods

FARMER TARGETS

See our next targets for sustainable dairy farming