FAO Releases Positive Environmental Report on Dairy

As part of its contribution to help address global warming, the dairy industry recently reached another significant milestone in their worldwide commitment to reduce carbon emissions. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published a report today titled Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Dairy Sector – A Life Cycle Analysis.

The report was welcomed by the dairy industry, specifically the signatories of the Global Dairy Agenda for Action on climate change, as it confirms what they expected based on earlier studies, justifying and underpinning the strong global cooperation of the signatories.

The report estimates that 2.7% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) are a result of milk production.

"The signatory group consists of seven international organisations. They pledge to regularly report on their progress and contribution to address climate change. This new report provides a benchmark of the many positive actions being taken by the global dairy industry," said Brian Lindsay, Chairman of the group’s steering committee.

In September 2009, the signatory group signed the Global Dairy Agenda for Action - an industry pledge to reduce carbon emissions as part of its contribution to help address global warming. The group is responsible for delivering commitments from the dairy sector and is set to report bi-annually.

An interim report on progress, following the signing of the Global Dairy Agenda for Action will be made in November at the IDF World Dairy Summit in Auckland, New Zealand. The FAO report will allow the signatory group to identify further areas for potential action along the dairy supply chain and positively engage with other bodies including government policy makers, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) and the recently formed Global Research Alliance.

A further aim of the group is sharing of best practice. Especially highlighted in the report are the need to focus on sustainable sources for inputs and the potential for reducing GHG levels through the transfer of technologies to regions where due to lower yields and low forage digestibility production of GHG can be higher. These are all key points emanating from the report.