Introduction
A micro dairy farm, situated on approximately 400 thousand square feet of land in the South West of England, with a workforce of 10 employees and a herd of 30 cows, faced the challenges of modernization. In an era of heightened environmental awareness and limited resources, the farm decided to reevaluate its operations to reduce its environmental impact and enhance business efficiency. How could such a transformation be achieved?
Challenges
The micro-dairy farm faced several challenges:
- Significant environmental impact on natural ecosystems.
- Increasingly strict environmental regulations by governments.
- Growing attention to environmental responsibility from both customers and consumers.
- Industry transformation due to changing consumer preferences and concerns about sustainability.
- Strengthening market access through compliance with environmental and sustainability standards.
Solution
To address these issues, the Micro Dairy Farm implemented a series of measures:
- Transitioning to a technological solution to replace a diesel generator for electricity generation: this action allowed to completely stop using stationary combustion, which, in turn, resulted in a full reduction of emissions in this category of Scope 1.
- Replacing 1 van used for customer product deliveries with an electric vehicle: this step reduced own car fleet emissions by 37%.
- The full transition of the farm to green electricity tariffs, powered entirely by 100% renewable energy, enabled a reduction in the Scope 2 emissions category.
Additional measures included:
- Installing energy-efficient dairy farm equipment, including specialized energy-saving milking equipment for cows.
- Replacing an old boiler system with a newer, more energy-efficient system.
All the above measures to optimize energy consumption led to savings of over 60%. Funding for these projects was provided by the British government.
- The company began engaging in animal care activities and adopted a conscientious approach to feeding. This involved procuring high-quality forages, balanced rations, and feed additives for cows. These measures are expected to substantially diminish the company’s environmental footprint in the future.
Implementing various measures for manure disposal, including the installation of a biogas plant to convert manure into electricity and heat for on-farm use. These measures will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from manure waste by a minimum of 50%. The project was funded with a grant from one of the British Rural Grants and Payments Programs.
Results
A combined reduction in carbon emissions of 49% was achieved. Such a transformation not only reduced the farm’s environmental footprint but also improved its business efficiency. Thanks to collaboration with Fewton, the farm underwent a significant shift towards environmental sustainability while enhancing its efficiency.
