DEXiDairy/DEXiDairyMix are free-to-use software tools developed by INRAE (UMR SAS) and the partners of European projects MILKEY and DairyMIX . It aims to help stakeholders to assess the sustainability of dairy production systems, in specialized (DEXiDairy) and mixed (DEXiDairyMix) contexts.

DEXiDairy/DEXiDairyMix both include (1) a DEXi model, (2) a data collection template, and (3) a handbook of indicator definitions. DEXiDairy/DEXi DairyMix are based on a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators defined as key components of the sustainability of specialized and mixed dairy systems. These indicators are drawn from both established frameworks (Life Cycle Assessment, Emergy, Social Life Cycle Assessment) and an in-depth review of scientific and technical literature. 

What do DEXiDairy/ DEXiDairyMix do?

• Assess the sustainability of dairy production systems across the three pillars: environment, economy, and social
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of systems
• Rank and compare systems with each other or against a reference system
• Facilitate discussion, critical reflection, and system improvement

Development of DEXiDairy/ DEXiDairyMix

The development processes of DEXiDairy/ DEXiDairyMix were carried out collectively and through iterative steps (Figure 1 et 2). The stakeholders of projects Milkey and DairyMix were actively involved in the tool’s development by contributing to (1) the selection of sustainability indicators, (2) their organization into a decision tree, (3) the establishment of weights for the different branches of the tree, and (4) the determination of threshold values to define the classes associated with the indicators. In addition to DEXi models, DEXiDairy/DEXi DairyMix both include data collection templates and handbooks of indicator definitions.

Description of DEXiDAiry-DEXiDairyMix

• DEXiDairy includes a total of 40 indicators, distributed across the sub-branches of a sustainability decision tree with three main branches: Environment (22 indicators), Social (6 indicators) et Economy (12 indicators). The tree, indicators, and associated parameters (units, weights, threshold values) are described in the articles by Wilfart et al, 2023 and Baillet et al, 2022. DEXiDairy not only enables the assessment of a system’s overall sustainability but also provides detailed sustainability scores for each branch and sub-branch (Figure 3).

• DEXiDairyMix includes a total of 65 indicateurs, distributed across the sub-branches of a sustainability decision tree with two possible organizations : (1) three main branches of sustainability: Environment (25 indicators), Social (20 indicators) et Economic (25 indicators) or (2) 5 sustainability properties defined as: autonomy (8 indicators), provision (12 indicators), efficiency (15 indicators), viability (12 indicators) et resilience (18 indicators). Two major changes compared to DEXiDairy: 1/ Branches adjusted to better consider mixed between crop and dairy systems (deeper inclusion of biodiversity and crop management in environmental branch, extension of economic branch to include cropping system and re-design of social branch to include agroecology practices 2/ Sustainability is explored following the two prespectives (3 pillars and 5 properties). The tree, indicators, and associated parameters (units, weights, threshold values) are described in the articles by Wilfart et al. (2026) and Soulé et al (2025). DEXiDairyMix not only enables the assessment of a system’s overall sustainability but also provides detailed sustainability scores for each branch and sub-branch (Figure 4). 

How to use DEXiDairy and DexiDayMix

1. Install the DEXi Software
2. Download DEXiDairy or DEXiDairyMix and open it in DEXi
3. Select the system(s) to evaluate, gather the required data, and complete the spreadsheet
4. Import the data from the template into the DEXi model
5. Evaluate the systems in DEXi
6. Optional: Use Izi Eval (Allart et al. 2025) to
   1. Generate summary graphs 
   2. Produce sensitivity analyses

Partners of project MILKEY

Partners of project DairyMIX

Please note

• This is not a certification or labeling tool.
• This tool does not replace professional advice!
• The developers of DEXiDairy and DEXiDairyMix cannot be held responsible for the evaluation results obtained using the tool.
• Use of this tool is voluntary.

The use of DEXiDairy and DEXiDairyMix are governed by the licence CeCILL-C; downloading the tool constitutes acceptance of this license. DEXiAqua may not be used for commercial purposes without prior contact and approval from the owners of the DEXi software. The CeCILL-C license allows you to use DEXiAqua without restriction, at your own risk. The developers and owners of DEXiAqua cannot be held liable for any results obtained. Any potential reuse of DEXiAqua in software development must comply with the terms outlined in the CeCILL-C license.