This method not only promotes the health, growth, and well-being of the animals, but it also aligns with ethical and sustainable practices under the Green Deal initiative. The EU-funded TransformDairyNet project aims to advance climate-smart CCC dairy farming practices by identifying user needs, generating innovative ideas and solutions, and disseminating actionable knowledge. The project integrates scientific research with practical application, fostering farmer-led innovation, and enhancing the skills of European dairy farmers and advisors. Ultimately, it seeks to strengthen resilience, promote the adoption of climate-smart practices, and collaborate with dairy and climate-focused communities.
A new knowledge network
TransformDairyNet will harness the expertise of 26 European partners to create 11 National Innovation Practice Hubs and a European Knowledge and Innovation Network of dairy farmers, veterinarians, advisors, supply chain actors, farmer organisations, researchers and policy makers, to work together to upscale cow calf contact (CCC) dairy production and beyond. Keeping cows and calves together for months rather than the usual hours/days promotes health, growth and normal, pleasurable behaviour, and is the most consumer accepted ethical practice for increasing the sustainability of dairy systems in line with the Green Deal.
TransformDairyNet aims to accelerate the adoption of CCC orientated-practice through: (1) compiling existing knowledge and identifying end-user needs; (2) co-creating new CCC knowledge–generating ideas and solutions; (3) sharing knowledge ready for practice, and (4) CCC legacy and tools for transforming systems. Through a multi-actor approach, TransformDairyNet will bring science and practice together to create a comprehensive CCC knowledge map, champion farmer-led innovation and share practice to upskill European dairy farmers and advisors at differences stages of adoption. TransformDairyNet will build resilience and normalise and spread CCC practice by co-creating harmonised, farmer–facing tools, materials and peer-to-peer activities, leveraging trusted channels and networks and engaging with existing and new dairy and CCC focused EIP-AGRI Operational Groups. TransformDairyNet will work with EU FarmBook to maintain the Knowledge and Innovation Networks beyond the project as a community of practice, able to pivot to other issues for the continued transition to sustainable dairy production into the future. Looking forward, TransformDairyNet will provide insights and recommendations for the acceleration of other novel agricultural practices with high citizen and practitioner demand, through reflecting on the thematic network processes.
Partners
- Prosjektleader: University College Dublin UCD Ireland
- Federation of Veterinarians of Europe FVE Belgium
- Institutul de Cercetare - Dezvoltare pentru Cresterea Bovinelor Balotesti RDIB Romania
- Phylum PHY France
- VIER PFOTEN International VPI Austria
- Università degli Studi della Basilicata UB Italy
- Royal Agricultural University RAU UK
- Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural
- Areas, Forestry and Fisheries
- THU Germany
- Eesti Maaülikool, Estonian University of Life Sciences EMU Estonia
- Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien VMU Austria
- Aarhus University AU Denmark
- Scotland’s Rural College SRUC UK
- Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos-Dimitra Veterinary Research Institute ELGO Greece
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU Norway
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU Sweden
- TINE dairies TINE Norway
- European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders EFFAB Netherlands
- Associazione Nazionale Allevatori della Razza Frisona, Bruna e Jersey Italiana ANA Italy
- Innovation Centre for Organic Farming ICOEL Denmark
- Associazione Nazionale Allevatori Specie Bufalina ANASB Italy
- Schweisfurth Stiftung SFS Germany
- Eesti Mahepõllumajanduse Sihtasutus EOFF Estonia
- BIO AUSTRIA – Verein zur Förderung des biologischen Landbaus BIOA Austria
- Sustainable Development Solutions Network SDSN France
- REVOLVE REV Belgium
