Walid Battal
European dairy farmers are now facing major challenges depending on their geographical location. Consequently, this influences their perspective on resilience. The Resilience4Dairy project brings them a glimmer of hope. It involves 121 farms from 15 different countries, with the mission of developing sustainable, resilient systems with manageable workloads by 2030.
This project aims to promote farms that are both profitable and environmentally friendly. It encourages farmers to prioritize flexible systems with measured risks and to strengthen dialogue between the farmer and the consumer. It also encompasses a wide regional diversity, each with its unique action plan. For example, Belgian farmers focus on profitability, Hungarians on farm expansion, Spaniards on purchasing feed, while the French prioritize work-time management and the Dutch focus on productivity.
Several development pathways are discussed: flexibility and open-mindedness, adaptation to climate uncertainties, the end of rigid practices, and setting clear objectives based on economic data.
Additionally, the Resilience4Dairy project offers technical sheets and webinars to share best practices among farmers and to build the resilient dairy farm of tomorrow, by 2030. Among its major challenges is mutual understanding of the needs of farmers and consumers, addressing societal expectations, and complying with new animal welfare standards. The project also emphasizes the recruitment of a skilled workforce while adapting to market volatility and changing climatic conditions.