Q: What is the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment?
A: The dairy industry has committed to reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of fluid milk by 25 percent by 2020 — equivalent to taking more than 1.25 million passenger cars off the road every year.
The effort is a top priority of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, which is comprised of leaders from approximately 80 percent of the dairy supply chain, including producer organizations, dairy cooperatives, processors, manufacturers, and brands.. The board of directors represents more than 30 organizations, including Dean Foods, HP Hood LLC, Kraft Foods Inc., Land O’Lakes, Hilmar Cheese Company, Leprino Foods, Shamrock Farms, Dairylea Cooperative Inc., Anderson Erickson Dairy, and Dairy Farmers of America.
At the first Sustainability Summit for U.S. Dairy in 2008, more than 250 participants from across the industry worked together to develop an action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase business value. That work culminated in the a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Roadmap for the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment, which was endorsed by the Innovation Center Board. Now, more than 500 stakeholders, including universities, financial institutions, government and nongovernment organizations, associations, brands and leaders throughout the dairy industry are helping the industry reach their goals.
Q: How will the U.S. dairy industry reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25 percent by 2020?
A: The dairy industry is embracing best practices and innovations during every step of the process that brings milk to the table. Currently, 12 projects across the dairy supply chain are under way — from production of feed for dairy cows to processing, packaging and distribution of milk — that are estimated to achieve a 12 percent reduction in GHG emissions and reduce carbon dioxide by 3.2 million metric tons — equal to eliminating the emissions generated from using 363 million gallons of gasoline.
Q: Can people reduce climate change simply by reducing their intake of dairy products?
A: There is a larger opportunity for environmental, economic and social gains by focusing on food production methods and the reduction of food-related waste, rather than eliminating certain foods from our diet. When making food choices, it is important to have a holistic perspective that considers the health and well-being of the person and the earth.
Together, milk, cheese and yogurt deliver a unique combination of nine nutrients essential for human growth and development. When consumed as part of a healthy diet, milk, cheese and yogurt not only improve overall diet quality, but they can help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, hypertension, obesity, colon cancer and metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that can lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Since Americans on average are only consuming about half the recommended three servings of low-fat and fat-free milk or equivalent milk products each day, reducing dairy is inconsistent with 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The National Dairy Council has extensive research available supporting the benefits of dairy products as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Q: What is the carbon footprint for fluid milk?
A: The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy is currently measuring the carbon footprint of fluid milk by conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA measures GHG emissions from farm to table, beginning with growing feed for dairy cows and ending with disposal of the milk packaging. With that data, the impact across the entire supply chain can be measured and then best practices can be adopted in order to reduce the carbon footprint. The LCA will be published and peer-reviewed later this year.
Q: What is the carbon footprint for dairy?
A: A scan-level footprint based on a review of major greenhouse gas (GHG) studies in the dairy industry suggests that the U.S. fluid milk supply chain creates 28 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents each year. The Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas estimates this is less than 2 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions.
Q: Aren’t there some reports suggesting the livestock industry contributes 18 percent of the world’s carbon emissions?
A: A 2006 report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on global emissions from livestock estimates that livestock are responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. However, this figure fails to set a proper context for GHG emissions in the U.S. dairy industry for several reasons: it represents a combination of both dairy and beef production; U.S. animal agriculture production has become very efficient, emitting lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than the global average; and the FAO attributed fully half of its 18 percent livestock emissions estimate to deforestation but there is no deforestation in connection with U.S. dairy operations. For specific information on the report, contact the UN/FAO.
Q: What are the major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for U.S. dairy?
A: Crop and milk production make up the majority of emissions. This is typical of life cycle assessments (LCAs) for most other products, where the early steps in the value chain require extraction or use of natural resources, and have larger GHG emissions as a result. While the steps further down the value chain (processing, packaging and transportation) may have smaller relative contributions, they all contribute to the carbon footprint of fluid milk, which together is less than 2% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
Preliminary estimates of GHG emissions are:
Crop Production = 20.7% of total carbon footprint of fluid milk
Milk Production = 58.9%
Dairy Processing = 7.1%
Packaging = 6.8%
Transportation = 2.9%
Retail = 3.6%
Q: Why has the industry waited until now to begin reducing its environmental impact?
A: The dairy industry has a long history of environmental stewardship. Most dairy farmers live and work on their farms, and understand the importance of protecting the land, water and air for their families, their communities and future generations.
According to Cornell University, over the past 60 years the dairy industry has reduced the carbon footprint of its products by 63 percent thanks to improvements in animal genetics, feeding rations, animal health programs, cow comfort and overall farm management practices.
The U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment will help the industry embrace best practices to become even more environmentally friendly during every step of the process that brings wholesome milk to consumers’ tables. This includes, for example reducing energy use at farms, cow nutrition management, transportation efficiencies and packaging innovations.
Q: Is the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy working with other international groups or researchers to find ways to reduce the carbon footprint of milk?
A: Yes, for example the Innovation Center is currently working with the International Dairy Federation and Sustainable Agriculture International to understand dairy’s carbon footprint and identify reduction possibilities. We also collaborate with experts from the FAO, UNEP, USDA and leading researchers from around the world including Great Britain, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand and Australia.