MilKey has three interactive activities: farm studies, modelling studies and a sustainability and emission mitigation assessment across all three pillars of sustainability of dairy production systems (DPS).

The knowledge generated will be used to create an interactive web application, the MilKey platform, to analyse farm data and to evaluate effects of changes in farming practice at farm, and regional level with regard to environmental, economic and societal sustainability indicators.

This output will have farmers and other stakeholders in the primary sector as target group, and will also be relevant for society and policy makers.

  • WP1 - Key parameters and framework of the MilKey emission mitigation and sustainability assessment

    WP1 identifies key parameters and develops a model framework for the 3P sustainability assessment and evaluation of GHG mitigation measures in MilKey. The WP starts with an inter-model comparison of the models used by the MilKey partners with a view of identifying system boundaries and the major dichotomies of the 3P sustainability concept. WP1 establishes a unified protocol to facilitate comparison and synthesis of GHG emission mitigation and sustainability assessments across the case studies (WP3) to be used in the 3P sustainability assessment (WP4). The protocol defines a standard on model input, model boundaries, model output etc. Finally, WP1 defines a list of key sustainability indicators for each of the three sustainability components (environmental, economic and social).

  • WP2 - Online monitoring and control tool for barn climate and emissions: development and demonstration

    WP2 develops an Online Tool for monitoring Indoor barn Climate, animal stress and Emission levels of air pollutants (OTICE). OTICE should be able to give real time information on:

    the temporal and spatial distribution of indoor air quality parameters (including visualisation)

    the level of animal activity (e.g. individual stress monitoring via respiration rate)

    the emission levels of air pollutants

    To achieve this goal, first a low-cost sensor framework will be designed (T2.1). After calibration and validation (T2.2), the sensor framework will be implemented on at least four commercial farms (T2.3). OTICE data will be delivered to WP4 and WP5 (T2.4). OTICE will be developed and optimized throughout the different tasks, evolving from a research tool structuring and analysing data to an online monitoring tool for the farmer.

  • WP3 - Case study farms

    WP3 characterises and collects sustainability parameters identified in WP1 on case study farms in key European areas. It Identifies socio-economic aspects related to dairy production systems in key European areas. WP3 suggests options to optimise case study farms and measure or model the system response. WP3 will transfer knowledge from the case study farms to the farming community, stakeholders, politicians and consumers via info days (together with WP5).

  • WP4 – 3 pillar sustainability assessment and GHG mitigation potentials for key European areas

    WP4 assesses the sustainability of dairy production strategies in key European regions. It develops flexible concepts of sustainable milk production for key European regions. It further assesses the GHG mitigation efficiency and potential. WP4 finally evaluates the trade-offs and synergies between economic, social and environmental issues in dairy production systems.

  • WP5 - Dissemination, stakeholder interaction, and MilKey platform

    WP5 ensures a widespread use and awareness of the MilKey platform for sustainability assessment of DPS. It further disseminates and implements project results through the collaboration with multiple actors. WP5 finally aims to externally communicate the project outcome with national and international networks and bodies (EPNB, EPMAN, TFRN, TFEIP, RAMIRAN, UNECE, MACSUR, GRA MMN, INMS and others).

  • WP6 - Coordination and Management

    WP6 aims to coordinate and manage the project and handle communication between partners. It further ensures the timely delivery of milestones and deliverables. WP6 ensures and controls the quality in the project’s implementation via a scientific advisory board. It finally aims to handle all communication and interaction with projects from ERA Gas, ERA SusAn and ERA ICT.

  • WP1 - Key parameters and framework of the MilKey emission mitigation and sustainability assessment

    WP1 identifies key parameters and develops a model framework for the 3P sustainability assessment and evaluation of GHG mitigation measures in MilKey. The WP starts with an inter-model comparison of the models used by the MilKey partners with a view of identifying system boundaries and the major dichotomies of the 3P sustainability concept. WP1 establishes a unified protocol to facilitate comparison and synthesis of GHG emission mitigation and sustainability assessments across the case studies (WP3) to be used in the 3P sustainability assessment (WP4). The protocol defines a standard on model input, model boundaries, model output etc. Finally, WP1 defines a list of key sustainability indicators for each of the three sustainability components (environmental, economic and social).

  • WP2 - Online monitoring and control tool for barn climate and emissions: development and demonstration

    WP2 develops an Online Tool for monitoring Indoor barn Climate, animal stress and Emission levels of air pollutants (OTICE). OTICE should be able to give real time information on:

    – the temporal and spatial distribution of indoor air quality parameters (including visualisation)

    – the level of animal activity (e.g. individual stress monitoring via respiration rate)

    – the emission levels of air pollutants

    To achieve this goal, first a low-cost sensor framework will be designed (T2.1). After calibration and validation (T2.2), the sensor framework will be implemented on at least four commercial farms (T2.3). OTICE data will be delivered to WP4 and WP5 (T2.4). OTICE will be developed and optimized throughout the different tasks, evolving from a research tool structuring and analysing data to an online monitoring tool for the farmer.

  • WP3 - Case study farms

    WP3 characterises and collects sustainability parameters identified in WP1 on case study farms in key European areas. It Identifies socio-economic aspects related to dairy production systems in key European areas. WP3 suggests options to optimise case study farms and measure or model the system response. WP3 will transfer knowledge from the case study farms to the farming community, stakeholders, politicians and consumers via info days (together with WP5).

  • WP4 – 3 pillar sustainability assessment and GHG mitigation potentials for key European areas

    WP4 assesses the sustainability of dairy production strategies in key European regions. It develops flexible concepts of sustainable milk production for key European regions. It further assesses the GHG mitigation efficiency and potential. WP4 finally evaluates the trade-offs and synergies between economic, social and environmental issues in dairy production systems.

  • WP5 - Dissemination, stakeholder interaction, and MilKey platform

    P5 ensures a widespread use and awareness of the MilKey platform for sustainability assessment of DPS. It further disseminates and implements project results through the collaboration with multiple actors. WP5 finally aims to externally communicate the project outcome with national and international networks and bodies (EPNB, EPMAN, TFRN, TFEIP, RAMIRAN, UNECE, MACSUR, GRA MMN, INMS and others).

  • WP6 - Coordination and Management

    WP6 aims to coordinate and manage the project and handle communication between partners. It further ensures the timely delivery of milestones and deliverables. WP6 ensures and controls the quality in the project’s implementation via a scientific advisory board. It finally aims to handle all communication and interaction with projects from ERA Gas, ERA SusAn and ERA ICT.