FrieslandCampina, Rabobank and Lely start pilot to reduce nitrogen

FrieslandCampina, Rabobank and Lely are joining forces to reduce nitrogen emissions at dairy farms. They are entering into a partnership for the installation of 96 Lely Spheres, spread across all Dutch provinces. The Lely Sphere is an installation that reduces nitrogen emissions up to 70 percent in the barn of a dairy farm. The three parties hope that after this pilot project the concept will be applied on a broader scale in the sector.

Major nitrogen reduction in dairy farming possible The Lely Sphere is a circular barn system that separates solid manure and urine and converts nitrogen emissions into valuable fertilizer. These can be reused by the farmer for precision fertilisation on the land. In this way a more closed mineral cycle is achieved, the use of artificial fertilizer decreases and the climate in the barn improves. Recent scientific reports show that with the Lely Sphere, ammonia emissions are reduced by up to 70 percent in the barn. The barn system is officially recognised and included on the RAV list in 2021 (‘Regeling Ammoniak Veehouderij’).

Cooperating to help farmers
With this partnership FrieslandCampina, Rabobank and Lely want to make the investment in a Lely Sphere accessible for farmers. FrieslandCampina will provide a financial contribution to the farms, Lely gives a discount on the purchase of the system and Rabobank offers a loan with advantageous conditions. In addition, the parties trust that this initiative will also encourage regional and national authorities to take initiatives to stimulate sustainable agriculture through innovation, and to make the necessary financial resources available.