Dairy industry partnership to reduce GHG emissions on Idaho dairy farms
Glanbia has set an ambitious target to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with our dairy supply by 25% by 2030, and delivering this ambition requires a partnership approach with the dairy industry.
In 2023, Glanbia Nutritionals funded comprehensive environmental assessments for a representative set of small, medium and large dairy farms in Idaho , to develop detailed plans for greenhouse gas emissions reduction on their farms.
The assessments were carried out by Newtrient, an organisation that specialises in helping dairy farms reduce the environmental footprint of dairy and make it economically viable to do so.
Newtrient’s assessments and recommendations focused on the key contributors to a dairy farm footprint: Cow Enteric; Manure Management; Feed Production and Energy.
In a positive next step towards a more sustainable dairy industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Newtrient funding to support a dairy methane emission reduction project in Idaho.
With $3.1M in Regional Conservation Partnership Programme (RCPP) funding and $1.6M in partner contributions from partnerships with McDonald’s, Schreiber Foods, Glanbia Nutritionals and Athian, this project seeks to reduce methane emissions focusing on manure management and feed management practices on Idaho dairy farms, resulting in a reduction of 37,500 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Commenting on the partnership, John Dardis, SVP Sustainability in Glanbia said: “This year we have invested significantly in our dairy emissions roadmap, balancing technology options with economic sustainability. We recognise that impact requires partnership and are delighted to work with key commercial supply chain partners led by Newtrient with USDA support. This project will bring proof of concept for our dairy sustainability ambition”.
This project shows how dairy farmers, cooperatives and companies are working together to reduce the environmental footprint of dairy.
Find out more about how we are taking action on climate change here.