Dedicated Dairy Farms : Regenerative agriculture for the climate transition

Dedicated Dairy Farms: Regenerative Agriculture for the Climate Transition



Regenerative dairy production: Passionate people making a difference!

Dairy cows on pasture, credit: Pascal Viens

The End of Regeneration Canada’s Involvement in the Dedicated Dairy Farms Program.

Regeneration Canada announces its withdrawal from the Dedicated Dairy Farms program. After having played an active and unifying role since its launch in 2021 and in the development of this programme with its partners Logiag and General Mills, Regeneration Canada now wishes to refocus on the mission that has always defined it: the regeneration of soil health and biodiversity through the implementation of constructive and collaborative projects and the creation of learning and exchange spaces between producers and stakeholders from the agricultural and social sectors.

Our withdrawal will not prevent the program from continuing. Logiag and General Mills remain committed to working together and will continue to support committed and future dairy farmers in accordance with the established pathway. We will continue to refer farms interested in the program to them. At the same time, Régénération Canada will continue to work with General Mills on other Canadian initiatives connected to the adoption of regenerative practices, reinforcing our shared commitment to the agroecological transition.

The end of our involvement in the Dedicated Dairy Farms program does not mean the end of our activities. We are actively working on the creation of a new dairy farm program in collaboration with stakeholders in the Quebec dairy and agricultural sectors. We want to continue our commitment and add our efforts to those already underway. There is still much to be done, and we want to be part of the solution.

Achievements we have supported and led:

  • A study focusing on the human aspects of adopting regenerative agriculture practices, carried out by AGECO in 2023; 

  • The establishment of a Steering Committee composed of 14 individuals with diverse expertise to define the governance and strategic direction of the project and to review the characteristics of the regenerative practices applicable to the farm; 

  • Technical training by agriculture professionals (nutrition, herd management, cover crops, fertilization, etc.) to present the approach and regenerative practices; 

  • Knowledge sharing on the following topics: 

    • GHG and climate transition; 

    • Sources of emissions on the farm (methane production by dairy cows, manure, slurry, etc.);

    • Crop rotation and carbon sequestration; 

    • Animal welfare and herd management; 

  • Networking of farms in the program to promote knowledge transfer and the development of local communities of practice; 

  • Professional co-development sessions to promote knowledge exchange among producers;

  • GHG inventories were completed on the 32 participating dairy farms;

  • A five-year climate transition plan tailored to the context of each farm. This plan details the regenerative practices to be implemented and their impact on GHG production;

  • Implementation of regenerative practices to reduce GHGs, such as:

    • Diversified pastures;

    • Cover crops;

    • Trials to reduce the amount of fertilizer applied;

    • Better manure and slurry management;

    • Reducing the number of replacement animals;

    • Improving animal comfort (e.g. building plans or building layout). 

Acknowledgments

We wholeheartedly thank the dairy producers who have been passionately involved in this project since 2022. We are privileged to have benefited from their expertise, their skills, and above all, their complete trust in building this innovative and cutting-edge program.

We would also like to extend our warmest thanks to the many stakeholders and experts who have helped us pave this new path by supporting us with their knowledge, advice, and expertise.

The knowledge and learning acquired within the Dedicated Dairy Farms program framework will be utilized in developing new avenues to build a more resilient dairy sector. Indeed, we aim to focus our efforts on mobilizing and supporting other producers who wish to embark on a transition journey towards regenerative agriculture and on the development of local networks and communities of practice.