A three-year collaboration between FrieslandCampina and Danone has led to a 17% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to a press release.

The reduction was accomplished mostly by FrieslandCampina’s dairy farmers implementing sustainable farming practices and green energy projects for the ingredients provided to Danone. FrieslandCampina used the Annual Nutrient Cycling Assessment to track progress, resulting in farm-specific insights from almost 10,000 FrieslandCampina member dairy farms.

Simone Boitelle, Director Global Corporate Affairs FrieslandCampina noted: “For over 150 years already, FrieslandCampina believes in cooperation to achieve great results. And this collaboration is yet another great example. Supporting farmers to produce milk in balance with nature, is the key to a more sustainable, climate neutral and nature positive future. I am very proud of our member farmers who make this possible, they deserve the stage for these strong results!”

Dairy farmers took measures including:
  • More protein harvested from their own farm land, further reducing the impact from sourcing feed from far away;
  • Optimising the cow’s diet composition: keeping a well-balanced nutritious diet that supports animal health and welfare, while reducing enteric methane emissions;
  • Energy measures: generating green electricity through use of solar panels, windmills and manure digesters; avoiding fossil fuels through bio-based diesel and/or reducing energy use (for example by recovering heat from milk cooling). In addition the manure digesters not only generate renewable electricity but also help to reduce methane emissions through manure storage. The green energy of the members is also used for FrieslandCampina’s production locations.
Danone and FrieslandCampina have agreed to extend the collaboration for an additional three years, looking to reduce GHG emissions by over 7%, which would bring the total GHG reduction to nearly 25% over the course of six years.

Yann-Gaël Rio, Danone’s Global Vice-President for Nature & Agriculture, commented: “Sustainable dairy farming is a key priority in Danone’s journey to achieving net zero emissions. This partnership demonstrates that by combining our expertise, we can accelerate the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices to help reduce the climate impact of dairy farming. While this is a great step, there is more to be done, and we are looking forward to supporting more farmers in their transition by extending this partnership for an additional three years.”