Danone commits to 30 percent less methane gas by 2030

The emission of methane gas by dairy cows through the burps and farts of the animals remains one of the dairy industry’s major challenges when it comes to sustainable milk production. Now, one of the world’s largest companies, French Danone, has proclaimed a firm target for the 30 percent reduction by 2030. According to the Dairy Reporter (dairy industry news media), this is the first time that a dairy company dares to set concrete targets for reducing methane gas.

The decision was announced by Jeanette Coombs-Lanot, the Group’s Sustainability Director,  at a webinar hosted by Changing Markets (campaigning organization).

- We work with a holistic approach, which will include different focus areas. These encompass breeding, manure handling, feed production, and not least feed additives such as Royal DSM’s Bovaer, she stated at the webinar, where she also stressed that Danone seeks to strengthen collaboration on research work with green organizations, research institutions, and other dairy companies.

However, observers are somewhat sceptical about the expectations of the food additive Bovaer, which remains a crucial element in achieving the 30 percent reduction.

- The scientific evidence is not yet that robust when it comes to the long-term effects; therefore, it is of the essence to address to what extent Danone is investing in this particular solution, a spokesman from the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy underscores. The organization also points out that if the goal of a 1.5-degree temperature increase from the Paris Agreement is to be met, methane gas emissions must be reduced by 45 percent by 2030.

Read more about Danone’s plans at the Dairy Reporter HERE