Making milk production more sustainable for a growing world

The world's population is growing and demand for food increasing. What role does milk play as a food staple?

Christian Müller (CM): Milk is a cornerstone of human nutrition. It provides high-quality proteins and essential nutrients. In demand worldwide, the upward trend is especially relevant in regions where consumption has historically been low. However, the increased appetite for dairy presents us with a dilemma: How to meet more demand while minimizing the environmental impact.

This is where GEA comes in. Our technologies help make milk production more resource-friendly and efficient. We support farmers with products and services that enable them to manage their businesses successfully and secure their future.

How has milk production developed over the years to become more sustainable?

CM: Milk production has made remarkable progress in recent decades. According to the International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN), greenhouse gas emissions per liter SCM (solid corrected milk) produced in Western Europe for instance, went down by 20.5% from 1.60kg to 1.27 kg between 1996 and 2023; in Eastern Europe during the same time period the decrease was even greater at 29% (2.83kg to 2.01kg). This is due to increased professionalization in milk production, efficiency gains and intensified focus on animal welfare.

Modern dairy farms work with improved animal genetics and more efficient feed-ration programs which are designed to provide a more regular feed supply as the basis for optimal and resource-conserving milk production. By using technologies that adapt to the animal’s needs, producers ensure herd health and increase milk productivity over the long term.

Optimizing nutrient cycles conserves resources too, reduces CO₂ emissions and improves farm profitability. Indeed, improved sustainability and profitability go hand in hand and GEA offers the technologies supporting this positive change.

What innovations have revolutionized milk production in recent years?

CM: There are numerous approaches to increase efficiency on dairy farms:

• Herd & health management: Modern, partially AI-supported systems monitor the health of the animals, detect problems at an early stage and help farmers take targeted decisions and measures. This can drastically reduce the use of medication. Healthy cows live longer, produce more milk and contribute a lower carbon footprint.
• Automation for efficient milking & feeding: Automated, as well as state-of-the-art, digitalized conventional milking systems conserve resources and are animal friendly. GEA automated milking systems deliver gentle milk removal and use intelligent sensors to check milk quality and udder health. GEA feeding systems reduce feed losses and ensure the optimum supply of nutrients.
• Manure management: Our solutions make it possible to use manure efficiently and return it safely to the nutrient cycle; this reduces emissions and operating costs.

These technologies significantly reduce the burden on farmers and help them manage their farms more efficiently with less impact on the environment. Producers save time and reduce manual labor, regaining capacity for other tasks. For the next generation of farmers, this means more flexibility, better and safer working conditions and a more sustainable future for farming.

¿Cómo fomentan los programas internacionales un desarrollo más sostenible de la producción lechera?

CM: Programas como la antigua iniciativa de la UE Del campo a la mesa o la más reciente “Visión de la agricultura y la alimentación” proporcionan una importante orientación para la agricultura. Su objetivo es garantizar la competitividad y sostenibilidad a largo plazo del sector agrario y alimentario de la UE. Esto impulsa la innovación y promueve un marco en el que los intereses ecológicos y económicos pueden combinarse y los servicios ecosistémicos se recompensan adecuadamente.

La iniciativa Del campo a la mesa, componente central del Pacto Verde europeo, pretende crear un sistema alimentario más sostenible, justo y saludable haciendo que toda la cadena de suministro alimentario, desde la producción agrícola hasta el consumidor, sea más responsable desde el punto de vista medioambiental y social.

This strategy aligns well with GEA’s own Climate Transition Plan. By 2040, GEA aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire business. All GEA solutions and services, including those for milk production, are being further developed with this goal in mind. The Add Better label highlights innovative GEA solutions that are significantly more resource-efficient than their predecessors - from industrial machines and processes to digital solutions to entire plants. In this way, we are making milk production more sustainable, as well as driving the transformation with farmers worldwide.

What trends and developments do you see in milk production over the next few years?

CM: Digitalization will play a central role. AI-based systems and automation, such as the GEA cell count sensor (see image carousel above), will become more and more common, increasing efficiency on farms and making work easier. At the same time, the circular economy will gain in importance – including the better use of side streams to closed nutrient cycles.

The needs of the next generation of farmers will be taken into greater consideration: Sustainable agriculture must reconcile profitability and quality of life. With modern technologies, we can achieve exactly that – and thus ensure the future viability of farms.

Working together for more sustainable milk production

Dairy production needs to adapt to overcome the significant challenges it faces. The good news: Solutions are within reach. GEA offers resource-efficient technologies that also support farmer’s economic security, by improving working conditions and securing the future of farms.

Thanks to a clear strategy, innovation and our close partnership with farmers, GEA enables resource-conserving, profitable and more sustainable milk production around the globe.