Ajinomoto Co. and Danone have forged a groundbreaking global strategic partnership dedicated to mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the milk supply chain. This innovative collaboration aims to address environmental concerns while supporting sustainable practices in the dairy industry.
- This initiative leverages AjiPro®-L, a revolutionary and cost-effective lysine formulation designed to enhance the absorption of amino acids.
- AjiPro®-L not only reduces feed costs for farmers but also significantly diminishes GHG emissions originating from the dairy sector.
- In vitro studies indicate that feeding cows an amino acid-balanced diet with AjiPro®-L can increase the effectiveness of a methane reduction additive by nearly 30%.
In September 2024, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and Danone publicly announced their partnership, which targets various sources of GHG emissions associated with milk production. The cornerstone of this initiative is AjiPro®-L, a cutting-edge lysine formulation developed by Ajinomoto Co. This product not only facilitates improved amino acid absorption but also serves as a remarkably economical tool for GHG reduction in the agricultural market. As part of Danone’s ” Partner for Growth ” program, both organizations are collaboratively striving to deliver tangible outcomes in reducing GHG emissions from dairy farming.
Through this partnership, Danone gains access to an effective resource capable of minimizing emissions associated with dairy farming. The innovative formulation of AjiPro®-L effectively supplies lysine, an essential amino acid, directly to cows’ digestive systems where it is readily absorbed as a critical nutrient. This initiative not only reduces the reliance on high-protein, costly feed options such as soybean meal—known for excessive amino acid content—but also helps to lessen the carbon footprint linked to sourcing these feeds by approximately 20%*1. Simultaneously, it contributes to a significant reduction of nitrous oxide emissions from manure storage, decreasing these emissions by roughly 25%*1.
Furthermore, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that a diet balanced with amino acids using AjiPro®-L, in conjunction with a methane reduction additive, can enhance the additive’s effectiveness by around 30%*2. This finding suggests a substantial potential for reducing methane emissions resulting from cow belching, thereby amplifying the environmental benefits of this partnership.
Sumio Maeda, Executive Officer & Vice President, General Manager, Bio & Fine Chemicals Division at Ajinomoto Co., Inc., has expressed, “Leveraging our expertise in amino acids, we developed the AjiPro®-L solution to help reduce feed costs and GHG emissions not only for our partners but for the entire dairy and beef industry. We are committed to mitigating negative impacts and expanding positive ones through strategies in line with our purpose of contributing to the well-being of all human beings, our society, and our planet with ‘AminoScience’.”
Jean-Yves Krummenacher, Chief Procurement Officer at Danone, echoed this sentiment, stating, “With partners like Ajinomoto Co., we are expanding our toolkit of solutions that we bringing to our dairy farmers that have a dual effect – on the one hand reducing on-farm GHG emissions whilst on the other, supporting farmers to improve their margin, and as a result, boost their resilience.”
Both companies have formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with initiatives in motion to roll out this innovative solution among Danone’s contracted farmers in Spain, Brazil, and the United States, as well as within Danone’s own agricultural operations in Egypt and Morocco. Looking ahead, Ajinomoto Co. and Danone will work together to integrate this solution into methodologies for quantifying GHG reductions within the dairy sector.
By consistently minimizing negative impacts while championing strategies and initiatives rooted in our proprietary scientific approach, “AminoScience,” Ajinomoto Co. is committed to addressing climate change challenges. The company aims to foster positive contributions towards mitigating global warming and enhancing corporate value.
About AjiPro®-L
Since its launch in 2011, Ajinomoto Co.’s AjiPro®-L has facilitated the efficient delivery of lysine to the small intestine, thereby improving nutritional absorption. Lysine, a vital amino acid found in cattle, is typically broken down during digestion, making it challenging to utilize effectively as nutrition. However, AjiPro®-L enhances dairy productivity and feed efficiency, supported by proprietary manufacturing technologies and robust scientific insights. The product enjoys the highest market share*3 for lysine formulations among dairy cows globally.
*1 Calculated by Ajinomoto Co., per head of cattle per year. The amount of reduction may vary based on individual farmers’ feed practices.
*2 Based on a typical methane reduction additive. Calculation conducted by Ajinomoto Co.
