Trajecting Territories

Abstract

With an average cheese production of 947 mln kg/year, the dairy industry (in the Netherlands) is responsible for 6.3 % of agricultural/dairy/commodity greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Northwestern (NW) Europe. This report brings the production of dairy and its effects on the spatiotemporal and environmental footprints. By performing a material analysis flow of an everyday consumption product-cheese, a by-product from the milk produced by cattle raised on the vast flat pasture lands in the Netherlands, we determine its harmful role in GHG emissions. Using a mixed-method approach, this study combines qualitative and quantitative analysis methodologies, extensive literature reviews, group discussions, available QGIS datasets, farmers sharing their experiences and knowledge on YouTube channels, case studies and a stakeholder interview. This led us to the formulation of a sustainable polyculture agriculture catalogue and toolbox where the dairy sector shifts from a core polluter and extractor role to a regenerative one. A future for farming is formulated where healthy soil is at the core of agricultural thinking. We outline a cow reduction spectrum resulting in opportunities for NW Europe leading to ecological improvements of the soil. Applying this toolbox to the South-Holland scale led to a multipurpose foodscape using an Integrated Crop-Livestock System (ICLS), where cows play the primary role of fertilisers of the land and secondarily, the role of milk producers. In conclusion, the research proves that the adoption of ICLS can significantly reduce GHG emissions in dairy production territories and optimise the existing land use. Implementing this system requires a shift in mindset and has significant implications for the dairy industry, policymakers and society at large. The strategy and action plan in this research seeks to inform policymakers, urban planners and other stakeholders in the dairy farming industry on how to transition towards a more regenerative and sustainable system that benefits the environment, society and the economy in the long duree. It suggests a socially just transition to the groups of farmers via a symbiotic approach.