During his PhD studies, Kristian Nikolai Jæger Hansen investigated how management factors influence gross margin, climate and environmental impact at Norwegian dairy farms based on Life Cycle Assesment. His research also included a comparative analysis of organic versus conventional management systems, examining their effects on gross margin, climate and envrionmental impact. Later in the project, Hansen focused on applying and assessing various machine learning models to predict the climate and environmental impact of dairy production as a pathway to reduce the workload associated with impact assessment.

The resarch contribute to indentifying important managment factors, such as dairy cow share in herd, import of fertilizers and  organic versus conventional managment to reduce climatic impact. The work also contribute to find methodological pathways to improve efficeny in environmental assessment, thereby contributing in reducing climatic and environmental impact and improve the recilence of dairy farming in Norway.
The PhD study was completed at Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, in cooperation with the Norwegian Center for Organic Agriculture (NORSØK)

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 16 May 2025at 10:00
Place: Auditorium, AU Viborg, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele
Title of PhD thesis: Management practices and farm characteristics; balancing production with environmental impact at Norwegian dairy farms
Contact information: kristian Nikolai Jæger Hansen, e-mail: krihanse@agro.au.dk, tel.: +47 90784934
Members of the assessment committee:
PD Dr. habil. Andreas Meyer-Aurich, Department of Technology Assessment, Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik und Bioökonomie
Associate Professor Ólafur Ögmundarson, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland
Senior researcher Iris Vogeler Cronin (chair), Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Main supervisor: Professor Tommy Dalgaard, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Co-supervisor: Senior scientist Sissel Hansen, NORSØK, Norway
Co-supervisor: Tenure track assistant proffessor Johannes Wilhelmus Maria Pullens, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor: Research Scientist Matthias Koesling, NIBIO, Norway
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defense is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.