Trouw Nutrition launches new service to accurately estimate the environmental footprint of milk

To remain competitive in an increasingly sustainability-oriented marketplace, dairy producers are being challenged to measure and reduce the environmental impact of their products. Early adopters of more sustainable practices are already benefitting from a clear competitive advantage, making value-chain transparency a key selling point. Others are still exploring where to begin their ‘sustainability journey’ and what they can do on the farm level to make their milk production more sustainable. Feed advisors have a key role to play in this transition.

Providing in-depth insights

Trouw Nutrition is addressing the growing need for transparency around the sustainability of milk with the launch of MyMilkPrint, a one-stop online environmental footprint service for milk production. The new service, integrated into Trouw Nutrition’s MyNutriOpt digital platform, uses farm-specific inputs such as milk production, on-farm energy use, and farm-grown ingredients, combined with data on purchased feeds and nutritional data. These inputs are then translated into an accurate estimate of the environmental impact per kg of farm-gate milk produced.

MyMilkPrint is an easy-to-use service, requiring no specialist knowledge and minimal set-up or training. With just a few clicks, feed advisors can uncover emission hotspots, and identify effective strategies to reduce the environmental impact of their client’s milk, without compromising on milk production or animal performance. For example, replacing a fat or protein source in a feed ration with an alternative ingredient that has a lower environmental footprint can lead to significant reductions in the total environmental impact of the feed ration. This, in turn, reduces the environmental impact of the milk produced.

Fostering productive relationships

For dairy producers, the insights and reports provided by MyMilkPrint can easily be shared, helping to develop more sustainable practices and forge closer ties with downstream business partners such as supermarkets, wholesalers, and food processors. Furthermore, the service helps farmers align with increasingly stringent regulations, such as the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy and Common Agricultural Policy, among others.