From corporate ambition to farmer-led implementation
The company is one of the world’s largest dairy companies, working with
a broad network of independent farmers. To support a major emissions
reduction commitment (-34% from its 2024 baseline by 2031), the
organisation sought to establish a credible emissions baseline and identify a practical pathway to achieve its target.
The challenge
Achieving the target required better farm-level evidence to guide investment decisions and the active participation of a large and diverse farmer community. Time-intensive data collection and varying levels of farm digitalisation further increased complexity.
The approach
dss+ built a comprehensive bottom-up emissions baseline using detailed farm and field-level data, complemented by extensive soil sampling. The project combined emissions modelling with direct farmer engagement through site visits, surveys and workshops to understand which measures farmers could realistically adopt. A financial incentive mechanism was also designed to encourage adoption of decarbonisation measures and support implementation at scale.
Impact on the ground
The inflection point
"We quickly realised that a -34% target would remain theoretical without reliable farm data and genuine farmer engagement. The turning point was shifting from top-down ambition to co-developing solutions with farmers on the ground.""
- Massimo Marino, Principal, dss+