Dairy company Danone has announced a plan to reduce the methane emissions from its fresh milk supply chain by 30% by 2030. The company expects that it will emit 1.2 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of methane emissions by its deadline.
 
This plan builds on progress Danone has been making in recent years, as the company has reduced its methane emissions by 14% between 2018 and 2020.
 
Citing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, reductions in methane have immediate benefits for the climate that reductions in carbon dioxide cannot achieve on their own. Dairy production from cattle makers represents 8% of total methane emissions caused by humans, as part of agriculture and livestock activities which represent 40% of global methane emissions.
 
Transitioning to Regenerative Dairy
 
The company reports that it will focus on working with its farmers to implement regenerative practices, and collaborate with peers, governments, and the Environmental Defense Fund to scale innovation, reporting, and advance financing models. The company with advocate and engage with governments to improve methane policies, data, and reporting, and funding for research and farmers transitioning to regenerative dairy practices.
 
“Dairy products are an affordable source of nutrition for many people, at the core of our mission to bring health through food. As one of the largest dairy companies, we take the challenge of both producing more to feed a growing population and greatly reducing emissions and impact on climate,” said Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Danone. “Our ambitious plan to reduce methane emissions, in line with Global Methane Pledges from 150 countries, is a commitment to build regenerative dairy. This step change requires a collective effort. Working with farmers, partners, and governments, we have the power and duty to build farming models that benefit the climate and society, taking a step forward to tackling global warming together.”
 
Danone works directly with 58,000 dairy farmers across 20 countries, and has already supported projects for dairy farms in 14 countries through its regenerative agriculture program, initiatives such as Farming for Generations and with Danone Ecosystem.
 
While projects also benefit biodiversity and soil quality and reduce the amount of chemicals used in farming, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions including methane has been a priority, Danone reports.
 
Collaboration and Partnerships
 
The Environmental Defense Fund will work with Danone on improving its science, data, and reporting for agricultural methane emissions to ensure climate benefits are real and durable, and will advocate for action from the dairy industry and governments to prioritize agricultural methane solutions. The partnership will also involve financing models, such as co-funding models between companies and governments, to deploy farmer-friendly solutions faster.
 
“Cutting methane emissions is one of the fastest and most effective ways to slow climate change. The dairy sector can play an important role in driving these reductions while boosting farmer livelihoods nad increasing food security and nutrition,” said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund. “Danone is the first food company raising this type of ambition, but it can’t be the last. This is the decisive decade for climate action. We invite other food companies, farmers, and policymakers to join us on a path toward 2030 climate results.”
 
Danone is also a founding partner of Farming for Generations, a global alliance which, in addition to other efforts, has developed a toolbox of solutions for dairy farmers on methane reduction and other areas.
 
Danone North America is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a strategy to improve manure management in order to reduce methane. In Europe, the company supports the European Commission’s Climate Neutral Farms, a project to co-develop and upscale climate neutral farms across Europe. The company has also worked with the Algerian government to support smallholder farmers to improve farming practices.