A leading edge dairy research programme will put high-input farms under the microscope to identify how to improve future processes and sustainability.
The project was being driven by Ballance Agri-Nutrients, AgResearch, DairyNZ and Tatua, in partnership with the Government's Sustainable Farming Fund initiative.
It would be led by Dr Stewart Ledgard of AgResearch and use case study farms of varying feed use intensity to examine effects of their system changes over the last decade - on emissions, production and profit, as well as testing options for improving their sustainability.
"Locally there is strong interest in understanding implications for water quality of dairy intensification through increased use of supplementary feeds and how effects can be minimised, while internationally there is a desire for food products to be produced with efficient use of resources and reduced wider environmental impacts," Dr Ledgard said.
"This project will apply a mix of regional and international market related methods."
