Sustainable Intensification in Dairy

Agricultural activity consumes most available fresh water out of all human activities. In particular, dairy production uses large volumes of water, directly and indirectly. Therefore, it is important to estimate water use as an indicator of the long-term sustainability of dairy production. Medium-term projections show that global demand for dairy products will be greater than the growth in supply and that its markets are increasingly demanding guarantees of safety, health, respect for the environment and animal welfare. The current challenge is to produce more with fewer resources (eco-efficiency) and with a reduced global impact on ecosystems.

In some countries, such as Argentina and Uruguay, the life cycle of carbon in agricultural production systems has begun to be studied, driven by para-tariff barriers and increased market demands, and by the confirmation that both carbon and water footprints are critical components at the primary production level. Although national estimates of the Carbon Footprint are being obtained in both countries, so far little is known about the issue of the water footprint.

Given this outlook, this project proposed to review the current situation and values of the carbon and water footprint in dairy production systems of the participating countries to learn more about the environmental impacts of the intensification processes, and thus identify, prioritize, design and formalize a research project aimed at improving the indicators to achieve a rational use of natural resources. Additionally, the regional work and effort will facilitate integration and complementarity among research teams aimed at strengthening innovation networks.