When Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) announced its goal to work toward net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from on-farm dairy production by 2050, we knew it was an ambitious milestone. Dairy farmers across Canada have already been taking action toward a sustainable future, with Canadian milk production continuing to have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world – half the global average.

In an effort to continue this progress, DFC and the provincial associations are proud to announce the launch of a pilot project to test an on-farm GHG emissions calculator. The pilot project will determine whether this specific calculator, called the Cool Farm Tool (CFT), will provide accurate measurements within the Canadian dairy landscape while also assessing its ease of use.

The CFT is designed to help measure a farm’s carbon footprint, provide farmers with data and help them customize environmental plans and lower energy costs. Forty farms across Canada have volunteered to test this tool over the next year. These participants will benefit from the knowledge of CFT-certified advisers for ongoing technical support, assessment completion and advice on how to turn results into an implementation plan that aligns with best management practices. Farmers will then evaluate their complete experience, including the CFT’s usefulness and ease of use.

The pilot project will determine if the CFT provides accurate insights for Canadian dairy farmers; for instance, understanding where energy and transport expenses are highest can help farmers improve efficiencies and lower costs. The data from the project will then be compared to DFC’s Life Cycle Assessment results and used to identify the most significant areas of on-farm emissions contributions. While the pilot project’s focus is on carbon footprints, farmers can also use the CFT to voluntarily explore other desired sustainability projects, including identifying hotspots and mitigating risks beyond GHGs, such as water conservation and soil health.

Canadian dairy farmers want to help shape a sustainable future for the dairy sector, and many want to measure their own footprints to learn how they can take practical individual action. The pilot project will demonstrate whether the CFT can be used on individual farms to paint an accurate picture of the dairy sector’s sustainability. DFC looks forward to updating our sector on the progress of this project.

This pilot project has been made possible through Agriculture and Agri-food Canada funding via the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. For more information on DFC’s sustainability partnerships, visit online.

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization representing Canadian dairy producers. DFC strives to create stable conditions for the dairy sector in our country. It also seeks to maintain policies that promote the sustainability of Canadian dairy production and promote dairy products and their health benefits. Visit DFC’s website for more information.