Organic Research Centre’s new project GreenGrass is set to work with dairy farmers in the UK, focusing on strategies to reduce nitrogen (N) fertiliser use on grasslands. This initiative, driven by a commitment to sustainable agriculture, aims to bridge the gap between conventional and organic farming methods, addressing the pressing issue of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Nitrogen fertiliser, a staple in conventional dairy farming, is a major contributor to GHG emissions. Intensive grassland management can see up to 300 kg of N fertiliser applied per hectare annually. GreenGrass seeks to challenge this norm by exploring and implementing strategies that minimise reliance on these inputs.
The project draws inspiration from organic farming practices, where milk is produced without using artificial fertilisers by integrating legumes into swards and optimising manure management. Many UK dairy farmers are already exploring these practices including the use of multi-species swards to reduce N fertiliser use and build more resilience into their grasslands. Concerns about trade-offs with milk production when N fertilisers are reduced will be addressed in the project.
GreenGrass aims to alleviate these concerns through rigorous research and collaborative efforts with dairy farmers in the northeast and southwest of England. The project will co-create, demonstrate and document innovative strategies, incorporating new technologies such as slurry inoculants, nitrification inhibitors, use of foliar N products, biostimulants, and precision manure application methods.
Central to the project are the Organic Research Centre’s (ORC) core values, emphasising:
Carbon footprinting will be used to monitor and model the impacts and trade-offs of the various strategies implemented. This data-driven approach will provide farmers with concrete evidence of the benefits of reducing N fertiliser use.
The ultimate goal of GreenGrass is to develop a comprehensive toolkit of methods and knowledge exchange materials. This resource will empower dairy farmers across the UK to adopt sustainable practices, reducing their reliance on N fertilisers and contributing to a more environmentally responsible dairy industry.
“This project provides a great opportunity for the ORC to bridge the gap between organic and conventional farming practices and support the dairy sector to transition to more agroecological practices,” says Dr. Julia Cooper, Organic Research Centre project lead. “By combining the best of conventional and agroecology practices, we can create a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system.”
GreenGrass represents a significant step towards a greener future for dairy farming, demonstrating the importance of innovation and collaboration in addressing the challenges of climate change and environmental sustainability.
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