International coffee chain Starbucks and dairy supplier Arla are partnering to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy. FoodNavigator hears more on why this kind of collaboration is vital to a sustainable future for food.
RESULTS FROM Arla s new climate check regime have confirmed that the dairy co-op s farmers are leading the way in cutting carbon. Since launching last year, the initiative has seen 8131 farms across seven European countries submitting data on the number of animals, feed composition, crop production, use of fertilizer, manure handling, use of electricity, fuel and renewable energy on their farms. This data has then been validated by external assessors in every market in a process which will now be repeated annually. The data confirms that Arla s farmers are among the most climate efficient in the world, averaging 1.15 kg of CO2 emitted per kilo of milk produced, against the current industry standard of 2.5kg. The best performing Arla farmers are able to produce a kilo of raw milk with a farm level footprint well below 0.9 kg of CO2e. The co-op hopes the data can now shape a clear blueprint of what will drive further reductions on farms over the next decade.
Dairy cooperative Arla has developed Climate Checks, a programme that leverages the power of big data to support a transition to low-carbon production. Climate Checks offer ‘a proof point that there can be a sustainable future for dairy’, Chairman Jan Toft Nørgaard tells FoodNavigator.