Farm Zero C Project – Carbery, BiOrbic and Partners

The first phase of the project achieved a 27% reduction in the carbon footprint at the end of 2023 compared to the baseline year of 2018. The farm also decreased ammonia footprint by 29% and increased the biodiverse area of the farm from 7.3% to 10% during this period.

The project began Phase 2.0 in early 2025. Phase 2.0 aims to further reduce the carbon footprint of the farm by at least 50% (65% including carbon sequestration) by the end of 2026 compared to 2018 levels.

The work will be done under several Work Packages:

Management – fertilizer use, native feed, winter slurry treatment, grassland and multi-species swards, genetic profile, bio fertilizers, bio stimulants and soil amendments, soil carbon sequestration habitat improvement and dissemination to Monitor farmers and wider community.

Enteric Methane Mitigation – quantify methane reductions from methane additives in pasture and where plantain is used, quantify the effects of these strategies on animal health, milk production and dairy produce, and how successful additives might be implemented beyond research.

Soil Health – Strategies to improve soil fertility and white clover establishment and management. Investigate the ability of bio-stimulants and bio-fertilizers to improve plant nutrient availability and supply.

Social Science – Identify sustainable dairy farming practices that consumers expect ‘good’ dairy farmers should be engaging in, identify where public policy support could be required to enhance adoption and to facilitate knowledge exchange and social learning along the dairy supply chain to result in a shared vision of sustainable dairy farming for the market.

There is also a renewable part of the programme to reduce the farms reliance on fossil fuels.

There are currently 12 partners in this project including Dairy Research Ireland.

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