In response to increasing water scarcity and the impact of climate change on traditional crops, we have launched the SORGOFAR project with the goal of identifying sustainable alternatives to maize, the main forage used on many dairy farms. Our aim is to ensure high-quality nutrition for livestock with crops that require less water and are more resilient to drought conditions.
As part of the project, we coordinate an operational group that includes the Frisona Association of Girona (AFRIGI), Agripurza SL, Grans de Lluçanès, Lletera de Campllong, and Cooperativa Pirenaica as beneficiary members, along with participation from the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Catalonia (FCAC), SEMEGA, Cooperativa Plana de Vic, and Cooperativa Lletera de l’Empordà.
We will evaluate various annual summer crops, such as forage sorghum, known for their drought tolerance, low water requirements, regrowth capacity, and high biomass production. These traits make them a viable and efficient alternative to partially or fully replace maize in dairy operations.
“With the SORGOFAR project, we aim to provide farmers with viable, sustainable alternatives that help them adapt to emerging climate challenges. We are assessing different summer crops that can deliver similar yield and nutritional quality to maize but with significantly lower water needs — a key advantage for dairy farms,” explains Joan Serra, researcher from our Sustainable Extensive Crops programme.
This project is part of the Strategic Plan of the CAP 2023–2027, co-financed by:
