Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Sustainability the priority, dairy farmers told

Updated at 1:31 pm on 1 September 2010

Leading dairy scientists from New Zealand and Australia have been told that finding sustainable environmental solutions is a priority for the dairy industry.

More than 150 scientists are in Canterbury this week at the Australasian Dairy Science Symposium, discussing the challenges for pasture-based dairying.

Symposium chair Grant Edwards, of Lincoln University, says the industry faces increasing challenges in sustaining production levels while reducing its environmental footprint.

He says it'll take a combined research approach to find a solution.

Dr Edwards says finding a solution is made harder by the fact that farmers constantly look to increase their milk production and stocking rates.

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