Research moves into the field

“Cooperation is in your hands”

From planning to action: WP1 goes on the ground

During the first half of 2026, the DAIRITAL project has reached a key milestone: research has moved beyond the laboratory and is now taking place directly in farms and dairies.

After months of methodological coordination, protocol development and internal collaboration between partners, the activities of WP1 (Research and Strategy) are now entering their most visible phase: real experimentation across the SUDOE region.

Actions 1.1 and 1.2 underway: from experimental design to first data

The different tasks under Action 1.1 are now active in the field:

Sampling in dairy sheep and cattle farms
Launch of sensory panels and milk and cheese quality studies
Trials on by-product valorisation and emission reduction
Development and validation of advanced digital tools (MIR)
Experiments on once-daily milking in dairy sheep
Methodological design on additives to reduce GHG emissions from slurry
Literature review on milk foaming properties

In parallel, Action 1.2 has also started. Its objective is to assess, at a theoretical level, the economic, social and environmental impact of the innovations developed under Action 1.1 in farms and dairies.

The project has now entered a key phase, where real data begins to feed future solutions.

DAIRITAL in action: Fieldwork, laboratory work and collaboration

Technical teams and farms are working together across France, Portugal and Spain to generate applied knowledge for the sector.

Roquefort-sur-Soulzon: A meeting point to move forward together

In June, the second in-person Monitoring Committee meeting of the project took place in Roquefort, hosted by CGR and Idele.

Over three days:

Field visits to farms and dairies
Technical follow-up of the project
Knowledge exchange between partners

Beyond the technical work, this meeting highlighted one of DAIRITAL’s key strengths: real transnational cooperation.

A space where French, Portuguese, Spanish, Basque and English were used naturally, often mixed to ensure smooth and effective communication.

Each partner brings:

scientific knowledge
field experience
strong links with the sector Together, we are building a shared vision for the future of the traditional dairy sector.

Coming next: More images, more results, more DAIRITAL

In the coming months, the experimental work of Action 1 will continue, providing further progress in digital tools and technical solutions.

At the same time, Action 2 will intensify in order to generate the data needed to develop the Transnational Strategy and prepare the pilot actions planned for 2027.

The project continues to move forward towards a clear objective: delivering real solutions for a more sustainable, efficient and competitive dairy sector.