‘Big opportunity’: Arla Foods, Aldi, Morrisons, Tesco tackling methane emissions together

A new Arla Foods-led initiative involving Aldi, Morrisons, and Tesco is aiming to tackle methane emissions in the dairy supply chain.

The supermarket chains are part of the collective effort to trial the use of Bovaer, a feed additive that reduces enteric methane emissions from cows, and work out ways to scale use of it throughout the supply chain.

It is a first-of-its-kind joint initiative, and will raise awareness of how these feed additives can be introduced to normal feeding routines and then be rolled out across a larger group of farmers.

The work is part of Arla’s FarmAhead Customer Partnership initiative, but the work with Tesco will form part of the UK’s largest retailer’s Future Dairy Partnership. Around 30 of Arla’s farmer owners will be involved in the scheme.

Arla’s Bovaer trial is expected to provide a more practical understanding of how to scale the use of feed additives and how it impacts on farm operations, as well as providing an opportunity to work more collaboratively with the feed industry.

Paul Dover, UK agricultural director at Arla Foods, commented: “We know that reducing methane is a big opportunity when it comes to improving our carbon footprint at farm level and feed additives like Bovaer have huge potential in helping us tackle this issue.

“Bringing partners together from across the food & grocery industry in this kind of initiative highlights the support there is for British farmers in transitioning to more sustainable farming methods.”

He added: “Rolling them out at scale will not be easy due to the cost involved, so it’s important we understand more about their usage potential and then work together with the industry, government and our partners to support farmers if we want to harness the opportunity they present in driving down emissions.”

In a joint statement, Morrisons, Aldi, and Tesco said: “Through collaboration as part of Arla’s FarmAhead Customer Partnership, we have the ability to address some of the climate challenges facing our food system.

“It is this collective approach that is really going to make a difference. Being involved in using a feed additive is a great way of testing out where we can drive change at scale to bring down emissions.”

Since Arla announced the news, questions have been raised about product safety, and The Soil Association charity said product containing the feed additive would not be permitted in organic.

“Soil Association organic standards stipulate that all ingredients/components of a feed additive must be actively approved for use and be deemed safe and nutritionally useful for the animal,” it stated.

“The main components that make up Bovaer are not included in the list of approved products/compounds and as a result, Bovaer would not be permitted under organic standards and for use in organic farming.”

The group added: “Arla buys milk from many different farms and they supply both organic and non-organic milk. Any organic milk they supply must meet organic regulation requirements and the production has to be completely separate from any non-organic milk. This must be demonstrated and independently audited every year.”

The company behind Bovaer, dsm-firmenich, said the feed poses “no risk to health for consumers nor animals and it has no impact on milk production or reproduction”.

This year, Green Retail World has covered several examples of UK supermarkets working closer with farmers as the industry increasingly comes to realise significant improvements in carbon reduction, protecting nature, and removing methane emissions can only be achieved through collaboration.

[image credit: Green Retail World]

[article updated: 10:56 on 2 December 2024]