The project aims to limit enteric fermentation – a digestive process occurring in ruminant livestock that releases methane into the atmosphere. To find a viable solution, research will focus on plant and animal genetics, as well as creating feed additives, methane-limiting vaccines, and “accessible and affordable measurement technologies.”
Danone plans to develop solutions for its farms in several countries to obtain “regulatory approvals”. The investment of $200m into the accelerator by several groups, aims to “accelerate progress in developing practical innovative solutions and create the scale and coordination needed for these solutions to be impactful, ensuring greater economic and food security for local communities and transforming the future of sustainable farming.”
Marcelo Mena, CEO at GMH, stated that this investment will ensure that innovative solutions are impactful, contributing to the transformation of the future of sustainable farming and ensuring greater economic and food security for local communities.
In addition to this investment, the partnership will also involve the creation of “a methane accounting and feed optimization decision support tool” for Danone’s dairy cows, a project that will take place at the company’s smallholder farms in North Africa. Starting in Morocco, Danone will pilot the tool with 1,000 farmers to assist farm advisors in the development of a suitable diet for dairy cows using locally produced, high-quality feed. The goal is to evaluate whether “improved livestock nutrition” can reduce methane emissions, as well as increase productivity and farmer income.
Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO at Danone, expressed that this partnership is “a key milestone in creating, testing, and deploying impactful and practical solutions in the field of methane reduction” and will be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future for many rural communities.
The news of the Danone-GMH alliance comes following the release of FAIRR’s damning report, which revealed that 20 globally listed meat and dairy companies had seen a 3.28% increase in emissions year-on-year. Alongside Tyson Foods, Danone reported a fall in emissions this year, but that was offset by the increase from other dairy and meat companies. In January 2023, Danone stated it was working towards cutting absolute methane emissions from its fresh milk by 30% by 2030, compared to a 2020 baseline. Last year, the dairy company also announced its investment in US-based firm Symbrosia, which develops seaweed-based feed said to reduce methane emissions from cattle by over 80%.
