DairyCo has welcomed the new report from the United Nations’ Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), ’Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Dairy Sector’, published on 20 April 2010.
The report, a follow-up to the FAO’s 2006 report, ’Livestock’s Long Shadow’, assesses the global dairy industry’s contribution specifically and covers the production of dairy products from the farm to the retailer. It shows that:
• Global milk production, processing and transportation contribute just 2.7% to the world’s total anthropogenic (ie those caused by humans) GHG emissions
• When emissions relating to meat production from dairy-related cattle are included, the figure is 4%
• Milk produced in Western Europe, including the UK, has one of the smallest carbon footprints (around 1.5kg of CO2 equivalents per kg of milk produced, compared with a global average of 2.4 kg)
DairyCo research and development manager, Dr Karen Wonnacott is pleased to see the report published. "As a member of the International Dairy Federation (IDF) DairyCo has been able to join forces with other dairy producing countries to encourage the FAO to focus on dairy first, before other livestock species, which are currently being researched."
"British dairy farmers and the dairy industry are already working hard to reduce emissions, and this report gives us even more motivation to continue that work," says Dr Wonnacott. "Through continued industry input into the Milk Roadmap, and ongoing research and development, we want to make sure that the British dairy industry continues to lead the way on these environmental issues."
