Can dairy ever be net zero?

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Food giant Mars is partnering with dairy farms in Germany and New Zealand to reduce the carbon footprint of milk production, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions
• Projects include adjusting cow diets, improving manure management, and utilizing carbon sequestration techniques
• Mars, which aims to be net zero by 2050, recognizes that dairy is a major contributor to its carbon emissions and is investing in innovative solutions to tackle this challenge

🔭 The context: Dairy farming accounts for nearly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to methane produced by cows
• Mars, in collaboration with farming cooperative DMK and seaweed company Sea Forest, is exploring methods to cut methane emissions by up to 80% using feed additives like red seaweed
• Other strategies involve using manure as renewable energy and adopting regenerative agricultural practices

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Reducing emissions from dairy farming is crucial for global climate goals, especially as dairy demand continues to rise with population growth
• Successful implementation of these methods could significantly lower methane emissions, contributing to broader efforts to combat climate change
• Innovations in dairy farming could also set a precedent for other agricultural sectors seeking to become more sustainable

⏭️ What's next: Mars is incentivizing farmers by paying higher rates for milk produced with lower emissions
• The company plans to use carbon credits to offset remaining emissions and continue funding research into new sustainable farming technologies
• Farmers, however, will need support to implement these changes without incurring financial risks

💬 One quote: “Dairy is the second biggest contributor to our carbon footprint, so cutting methane inevitably is an important part of our journey,” said Amanda Davies, chief R&D, procurement, and sustainability officer at Mars

📈 One stat: By combining methods like regenerative agriculture, manure management, and feed additives, carbon emissions from dairy production can potentially be reduced by up to two-thirds, according to DMK Group

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