Modelling net Carbon emissions from dairy production systems (PhD)

The Challenge

While livestock production supports livelihoods and food security, there are increasing concerns regarding the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) at a global level: according to the FAO, livestock produces globally about 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with cattle accounting for approximately 65% of livestock emissions. In the UK, however, the contribution of livestock is significantly lower than the global average. In response to the global climate crisis, the UK government has set a national target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the National Farmers Union declaring its own more ambitious net zero target of 2040 for the whole agricultural sector in England and Wales.

For the industry to reduce carbon emissions whilst growing output, the dairy sector will need to increase the efficiency of production and offset the carbon emitted.

Aims and Objectives

• To integrate previously published whole farm and soil organic matter (carbon sequestration) models to allow a comparison of the relative benefits of improvements in production efficiency and change in land use to promote carbon sequestration on net carbon emissions and economic performance over differing time horizons.

• To develop a whole farm simulation model representing the UK dairy herd capable of evaluating the technical, economic and environmental impacts of differing animal performance, land use, farm management and nutritional strategies
• To evaluate the relative impact of differing animal performance on net carbon emissions 
• To evaluate the potential for carbon sequestration in UK dairy production systems.

Student

Fern Baker, University of Nottingham