The
Association of ProAgria Centres, Mtech Digital Solutions Oy and Valio
Oy have initiated construction on a comprehensive tool to reduce
eutrophication and climate change caused by dairy production. “The tool
and related calculations clarifies the impact of dairy production on the
climate right the way up to the milk tank on the farm. We are currently
working on the project on pilot farms in Northern Ostrobothnia. “We are
expecting Biocode to be a new kind of practical tool and model for
getting to grips with climate change,” says development manager and
project manager Pentti Meriläinen from the Association of ProAgria
Centres.
Environmental impact calculations will be modelled over the current
year and used to implement the first version of the calculation.
Environmental impact calculations for cereal and grain production will
also begin in autumn. That will focus on a baking company’s
environmental identifiers. “We have high expectations for this method
because it will provide a realistic overview of the environmental impact
of dairy production and will provide Valio with important information
verifying the environmental impact of dairy production,” says primary
production manager Juha Nousiainen from Valio Oy
Biocode provides new data on dairy’s carbon footprint
The new calculation system is called Biocode. It is a new type of
calculation tool relating to an environmental identifier calculation
system, which is based on the continuous production of data. It allows
for the production, analysis and distribution of environmental
identifiers in the production chain.
The calculation makes use of continuously updated production data
from farms. For primary production data is collected directly from farms
utilising data from ProAgria’s and Mtech’s databases. The results will
reveal e.g. dairy production’s carbon footprint calculated with
farm-specific data, thereby showing the impact of implemented procedures
for improvement. “In this way we are able to verify the carbon
footprint and find out what methods can be used to influence it,” says
Markku Laak, who is responsible for the project at Mtech Digital
Solutions.
The pilot project to construct a tool for working with dairy
production-related climate change is funded by the Association of
ProAgria Centres, Mtech Digital Solutions Oy, Valio Oy, and the North
Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the
Environment. VTT is acting as life cycle calculation specialist. The
pilot project for cereals and grain production to be initiated in autumn
in Uusimaa is funded by the background organisations and the Uusimaa
Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
Further information is available from:
Project Manager & Development Manager Pentti Meriläinen, Association of ProAgria Centres, tel. +358 (0)40 589 8860, pentti.merilainen(a)proagria.fi
Manager Markku Laak, Mtech Digital Solutions Oy, tel. +358 (0)40 522 2279, markku.laak(a)www.mtech.fi
Primary Production Manager Juha Nousiainen, Valio Oy Alkutuotanto, tel. +358 (0)50 384 0242, juha.nousiainen(a)valio.fi
ProAgria is a nationwide specialist organisation. We
improve the competitive ability and profitability of our customers and
partners. Our eleven ProAgria centres serve farmers and rural
entrepreneurs all over Finland. We develop Finnish agriculture and the
Finnish countryside through our solid experience and modernising
approach. Our strengths include our nationwide network of ProAgria
centres, close cooperation with other actors and our specialists’
teamwork. Let’s succeed together!
Mtech Digital Solutions Oy is a digital solutions
provider specialising in the bioeconomy. We are a reliable partner,
known for our innovative abilities, good service and understanding of
our customers’ needs and activities. We are skilled with network and
mobile services, data storage and analytics solutions, information
system and process integrations, and the industrial internet. Our
customers are companies, associations and official bodies who are
involved with the bioeconomy.
Valio Oy is a Finnish food company which primarily processes and markets dairy products. It is owned by 17 Finnish dairy production cooperatives. Seven of the owner-cooperatives supply Valio with milk produced by its 5,750 owners.