Conclusions from the IDF Dairy Farming Summit on climate change

Conclusions and take home messages from the IDF Dairy Farming Summit on climate change in Edinburgh June 25-27, 2008

What have you learnt/confirmed?

• High level of awareness and willingness to act in the industry
  - forward looking leadership
  - initiative and innovation capacity
• Dairy systems across the landless to land-based spectrum

Take home messages and remarks

• Climate change is a relatively new scientific field, its interactions with agriculture/dairy is even more so... 
• ...we however have enough information to start tackling the issue (mitigation and adaptation) and ...
• ... a lot can be done with available technology
• Efficiency!
• Delivering the adequate mix of animal products and environmental/social services

Opportunities for collaboration and suggestions

• Support to market oriented producers – technology transfer
  - animal production and health
  - sector organization
  - adaptation to climate change (water efficiency)
• Development of methodologies
  - simple and robust C footprint (level of aggregation)
  - certification of GHG emission reduction and carbon sequestration in soils
• Strategic analyses at company and public policy levels