Fonterra and science and dietary specialist Royal DSM are engaged on decreasing on-farm greenhouse fuel emissions with much less gassy cows.
DSM has developed a feed additive, Bovaer, which reduces methane emissions from cows by greater than 30 per cent in non-pasture-based farming techniques.
Fonterra is asking, can it do the identical for New Zealand’s pasture-based farming techniques.
Fonterra group director farm supply Richard Allen says that discovering an answer to the methane problem requires extra than simply the laborious graft farmers are placing in.
“New Zealand dairy farms are acknowledged as having the bottom carbon footprint on the planet amongst main milk producers, however Fonterra recognises that organic emissions produced by cows are a serious contributor to the nation’s total emissions and is working to do no matter it could actually to search out methods to cut back them,” Allen mentioned.
Fonterra chief science & expertise officer Professor Jeremy Hill, mentioned the co-op needed to discover and validate how Bovaer might work right here in New Zealand, the place cows are predominantly fed grass.
“We additionally see this as a chance to additional speed up our international management in low-carbon dairy merchandise to create extra worth for our New Zealand milk. We’re working intently with DSM New Zealand to make sure that any innovation is nicely examined and may simply be distributed and utilized by our farmers,” Hill mentioned.
Mark van Nieuwland, international programme head for DSM Dietary Merchandise says they’re proud to be in collaboration with Fonterra.
“Each corporations have labored collectively for a few years, and it’s a pleasure to increase this to the sphere of sustainability and local weather change.
“With Fonterra, we now have an vital associate to doubtlessly commercialise Bovaer in New Zealand and globally.”
The World Assets Institute recognised Bovaer as one in all ten international break-through applied sciences that might assist feed the world sustainably.