There are more than 550 dairy farms operating in southwestern Pennsylvania, with many bordering on financial insolvency due to fluctuations in the commodity price of fluid milk and a lack of alternative markets for their product. Fortunately, dairy product consumption is on the rise in the US – but PA farmers lack access to value-added facilities to produce the types of products gaining popularity with consumers, such as shelf-stable and ultra-pasteurized milk, yogurt and artisanal cheeses.

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Additionally, the 41,000 dairy cows on regional dairy farms produce tons of organic waste that can be used to fuel a renewable energy complex based on anaerobic digestion technology. This process substantially reduces the carbon footprints of individual farms as well as mitigating greenhouse gasses statewide – farm waste accounts for three percent of the methane produced in PA – and this technology is already being successfully deployed.

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In answer to these needs, and with support from the Pennsylvania Agricultural Innovation Grant Program, Food21 of Pennsylvania has completed a feasibility study on establishing a shared infrastructure model for dairy, agricultural and energy ventures in the region. The study, conducted by Fourth Economy consultants, examines ways to support dairy farms and strengthen regional supply chains with a value-added dairy processing plant including an anaerobic digestor, AgTech research center and demonstration farm.

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