Retailers and dairy farmers unite to combat methane emissions

Reducing Methane Emissions in Dairy Farming

The UK’s dairy industry is taking a significant step toward sustainability through a groundbreaking partnership between Arla Foods, the nation’s largest dairy cooperative, which is owned by farmers, and leading supermarket chains Morrisons, Tesco, and Aldi.

Together, they are piloting the use of Bovaer®, a feed additive designed to cut methane emissions from dairy cows by an average of 27%.

Arla says that this latest collaboration is part of its FarmAhead™ Customer Partnership initiative, which aims to tackle pressing environmental challenges through partnerships or collective action.

Bovaer® is developed and supplied by Swiss-Based DSM-Firmenich, a global science-based company formed in 2023 through the merger of Swiss-based Firmenich, a flavor and fragrance business, and DSM, a Dutch company specializing in nutrition, health, and sustainable living.

This latest partnership involves trials on 30 Arla farms, providing insights into how such additives can integrate into standard feeding practices and their potential to be scaled across the sector.


Bovaer®: A Promising Solution for Enteric Methane Reduction

Bovaer® targets enteric methane emissions, which occur as cows digest their food. “Enteric” refers to the digestive system, specifically the stomach and intestines.

When we talk about “enteric methane emissions,” it means the methane gas that is produced in a cow’s stomach as it digests food.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Reducing its release from agriculture is a key part of the UK government’s climate targets.

This quote comes from one of our own articles, titled What is Methane?”:

“Methane, a compound with the chemical formula CH4, a common fuel source, is the main component of natural gas. It is also a powerful greenhouse gas, i.e., it is one of the gases that drive climate change.”

“Environmentalists worry about CH4. If we let it get into our atmosphere from leaky gas pipes, for example, it absorbs the Sun’s heat. Subsequently, our planet warms up. Methane emissions also come from agricultural livestock.”

Bovaer® has already been approved for use in almost 60 countries, including the UK, the EU, and the United States.

Image of farmers with their cows feeding and two hands holding Boavaer powder.
Images courtesy of Arla Foods, adapted by Market Business News.

Challenges in Scaling Up Sustainable Farming Practices

  • Cost

Although the science behind Bovaer® is promising, cost remains a barrier to widespread adoption.

Farmers like Andrew Barraclough, one of the trial participants, emphasize that external support is crucial.

The financial burden of such solutions often increases the overall cost of milk production, making it difficult for farmers to implement them on a large scale.

Achieving sustainable farming at this level will require collaboration across the industry, along with financial and structural support to ensure these innovations are both practical and accessible.

  • Collaboration Crucial

Arla’s UK Agricultural Director, Paul Dover, echoed this sentiment:

“We are extremely excited about this new collective way of working alongside our retail partners and the possibilities that feed additives such as this one present.”

“However, rolling them out at scale will not be easy due to the cost involved, so it’s important we understand more about their usage potential and then work together with the industry, government, and our partners to support farmers if we want to harness the opportunity they present in driving down emissions.”


The Role of Partnerships in Achieving Sustainability Goals

Arla’s initiative with the UK’s leading supermarkets reflects a collective approach to addressing climate challenges in the food industry. By pooling resources and expertise, the partners aim to create a blueprint for a more sustainable dairy sector.

Apart from tackling emissions, the initiative also includes enhancing animal welfare and supporting farmers through innovation and investment.


Conclusion

Their partnership represents a significant step toward decarbonizing dairy farming, say Arla, Morrisons, Tesco, and Aldi.

While challenges remain in scaling up solutions like Bovaer®, the initiative showcases the power of collaboration in driving industry-wide change.

By successfully reducing methane emissions, this partnership could help pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future for dairy farming.