Can AI help overcome the limits of Techno-optimism in the dairy industry?

Techno-optimism is the belief that technology is a driving force behind human progress and that it can solve any problem. 

This belief often assumes that innovation alone can solve climate challenges. It doesn’t take long to find an example of this in the news agenda. Take methane-reducing feed additives like Bovaer™. These have shown promise in trials but face considerable pushback from consumers. 

This highlights a broader challenge: technology adoption is not just a question of availability but of alignment with human values, habits, and systems. The UK government’s climate strategy often mirrors this techno-optimistic mindset, focusing heavily on tools like renewable energy, carbon capture, and electric vehicles while sidelining the importance of behaviour change. 

The UK’s push to meet Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) targets is an example of this. The government requires 22% of new car sales to be zero-emission by 2024 and 100% by 2035. This has led to an EV surplus as production outpaces demand, even with price cuts. This oversupply has slashed used EV values, with some models losing up to 50% of their value in a year, driven by rapid tech advancements, battery concerns, and limited charging infrastructure. 

This highlights how making progress on sustainability requires as much focus on understanding and influencing human behaviour as it does on advancing technology. 

While these challenges highlight the limits of certain innovations, some technologies offer clearer win-win scenarios with immediate benefits, particularly in sectors like dairy farming. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) provides tools that not only enhance productivity and sustainability but also augment human decision-making, enabling farmers, consumers, and policymakers to make the choices they already want to make – more efficiently, effectively, and with greater confidence. By applying AI strategically, the dairy industry can amplify its already impressive environmental gains while further enhancing productivity. 

Clear-Cut AI Applications In Dairy Farming

Improved Health Monitoring

AI systems detect illnesses like mastitis and lameness at an early stage, reducing productivity losses and the need for intensive treatments. Healthier cows are more efficient, producing the same amount of milk with less feed, thereby reducing methane emissions per litre of milk. Early detection also minimises antibiotic use, contributing to sustainability goals.

BCS monitoring

Automated BCS tools like CattleEye optimise feeding strategies by ensuring cows maintain an ideal body condition. Efficient feeding reduces overfeeding, leading to lower methane emissions from digestion and waste. Healthy cows also experience fewer metabolic disorders, improving productivity and reducing lifetime emissions per cow. 

Precision feeding

AI-tailored rations are designed to meet a cow’s specific nutritional needs, improving feed conversion efficiency. This reduces feed waste and optimises digestion, decreasing enteric methane emissions and nitrous oxide emissions from manure.

When combined with BCS monitoring, precision feeding can be even more impactful. By tailoring rations based on real-time BCS data, farmers can optimise energy intake for individual cows or groups. This approach ensures under-conditioned cows regain ideal weight efficiently while over-conditioned cows avoid excessive energy intake, further reducing methane output and feed waste.    

Transcending Techno-Optimism

AI offers the dairy industry a unique opportunity to transcend the pitfalls of techno-optimism by marrying innovation with actionable, real-world insights. In so doing, farmers can achieve measurable gains in productivity and sustainability. Rather than relying solely on new technologies, AI is doing better at integrating data with behaviour. 

In this way, the technology enables targeted interventions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while appropriately supporting the industry’s long-term resilience and environmental stewardship.