Four years after its launch, the KlimaStaR Milk resource project is reporting significant progress in reducing the environmental impact of milk production. The cross-industry initiative, led by Emmi, Nestlé, aaremilch, ZMP, and AgroCleanTech with support from the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture, aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions and competition for feed-food and land by 20% each by 2027. According to a media release as PDF, participating farms have already surpassed the feed-food target, reducing competition by 23% since the project began.
At the end of 2025, 219 dairy farms producing around 73 million kilograms of milk annually were involved. These farms have increasingly turned to animal feed that does not compete with human nutrition, such as by-products from food production, thereby using resources more efficiently. Competition for land has also fallen by 15% below the baseline, meaning farms now produce more milk and animal protein on the same or only slightly larger area. Progress has been particularly notable in the valley zone.
Greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of milk have been reduced by about 8% relative to the start of the project. In 2025, adjusted production systems cut emissions by 66 grams of CO2 equivalents per kilogram of milk. While absolute emissions rose slightly due to higher overall milk production, they remained lower than they would have been without the measures. Extrapolated across the 73 million kilograms produced, this equates to a reduction of nearly 5,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to the original production system.
However, further reductions are challenging. Farms face high investments and long planning horizons, and Switzerland's baseline greenhouse gas emissions were lower than initially assumed and below the international average. In the remaining two years, farms will receive individual guidance and tailored advice, with those who have achieved significant reductions sharing their experiences. For more details, the KlimaStaR Milk website (in German) offers additional information.
The project's positive results have spurred broader industry action. Based on the findings, the industry organisation Milch (BOM) developed a climate calculator that has been available to all Swiss milk producers since July 2026. This tool allows farms to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions and feed-food competition, and to identify optimisation measures. By applying the project's methods nationally, the dairy industry is laying the foundation to extend progress beyond the project farms and contribute to Swiss agriculture's 2050 objectives, which include more climate-friendly production and increased use of grass and by-products. Visual materials and testimonials are available in various KlimaStaR Milk documents.
This news matters because it demonstrates that collaborative, science-based approaches can deliver tangible environmental benefits in agriculture. For the dairy industry, it provides a validated pathway to reduce emissions and resource competition, potentially influencing national policies and market expectations. For consumers, it signals a shift toward more sustainable milk production, aligning with growing demand for climate-friendly food. As the project enters its final phase, its outcomes could shape the future of Swiss dairy farming and serve as a model for other regions. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
