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Bel Brands USA and Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) have announced the results of their collaborative sustainable milk cooling pilot programme. Last year, the companies partnered to implement and measure sustainable cooling practices on a dairy farm in the US. The project included the installation of new natural well water and forced air barn cooling systems on a DFA dairy farm that supplies milk to Bel Brands. Over the 12-month period, the cooling methods reduced electricity consumption by 6% on the dairy farm, while milk production increased by 4%. Meanwhile, new sand bedding on the site enabled farmers to spend less time on their tractors, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Jean Michel Dos Remedios, sourcing and supplier development senior director at Bel Brands USA, said: "At Bel Brands, we have been improving our practices in an effort to be a better steward of the environment and a positive force in the communities we serve. Our work with Dairy Farmers of America is the latest example of our commitment." As a result of the pilot's success, Bel and DFA are extending their partnership with a new programme that will see Bel supply a small DFA dairy farm with equipment normally used on larger dairy farms. This will be done in order to test the viability of the equipment on a smaller scale, promoting cost-effective and sustainable practices that can be replicated on other US dairy farms in the future.