Danone has recently announced a $200 million partnership with the Global Methane Hub (GMH) to reduce methane emissions in their dairy supply chain. With this, Danone has become the first corporate funder of the Enteric Fermentation R&D Accelerator, a major global research initiative focused on enteric methane coordinated by GMH.
With $200 million already raised, the accelerator is dedicated to investing in innovative research to develop scalable and practical solutions for livestock farmers to mitigate enteric fermentation. This process, prevalent in ruminant livestock, is a major contributor to methane emissions. The research will explore various avenues, including feed additives, plant and animal genetics, methane vaccines, and measurement technologies.
“Our partnership with the Global Methane Hub is a key milestone in creating, testing, and deploying impactful and practical solutions in the field of methane reduction.”
“Agriculture is a sector where methane reduction efforts can have an extraordinary impact,” said GMH CEO Marcelo Mena. “70% of agriculture-driven methane emissions come from enteric fermentation, making it the largest single source of methane emissions of any sector.”
The accelerator will be supported by an alliance of philanthropic organizations and governments. Danone is also set to engage with academic experts and technology providers to test solutions that aid in regulatory approvals and drive innovations suitable for different farm systems across multiple countries.
“Through scaled-up investment from philanthropy, governments, and the private sector, we can 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 transform the future of sustainable farming,” added Mena.
Another key aspect of the partnership is the development of a methane accounting and feed optimization decision support tool for dairy cattle. The tool will first be piloted in Morocco with 1,000 farmers and aims to enhance livestock nutrition, thereby improving productivity, increasing farmers’ income, and reducing methane emissions.
This project is critical as dairy production from cattle accounts for an estimated 8% of total human-caused methane emissions globally.
“Reducing methane is a major stake for the climate, the sustainability of our foods systems and the future of many farming communities,” said Danone CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique. “As a long-time sustainability pioneer, we know that doing it at scale and in an impactful way cannot be done by anyone in isolation.
“Our partnership with the Global Methane Hub is a key milestone in creating, testing, and deploying impactful and practical solutions in the field of methane reduction.”
Danone: Broader methane reduction goals
In addition to the new partnership with GMH, Danone has been actively investing in manure methane solutions in Spain, Belgium, and the US. The company is also exploring methane inhibitors, including the Bovaer feed additive in Belgium farms and supporting Symbrosia start-up, which develops seaweed-based feed additives.
In January 2023, Danone set a goal to reduce absolute methane emissions from its fresh milk supply chain by 30% by 2030 (relative to 2020 levels), as part of its Methane Action Plan. This plan is a key component of its broader sustainability roadmap, the Danone Impact Journey.
Initiatives involve: collaborating with farmers to implement regenerative dairy practices and develop solutions; partnering with peers, governments, and organizations like the Environmental Defense Fund to expand innovation, improve reporting, and advance financing models; and advocating for improved methane policies and data reporting with governments, as well as securing funding for research and supporting farmers transitioning to regenerative practices.
Danone also became the first food company to set a methane reduction target, as well as to align with the objectives of the Global Methane Pledge launched at COP26, in January 2023. The company has committed to reporting on its methane emissions in its extra financial disclosure as part of an effort to maintain transparency.
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