As customers grow more conscious of a product’s carbon impact, dairy producers are shifting their attention to more sustainable techniques. This shift in emphasis is motivated by changes in consumer expectations and the need for dairy supply chain partners to collaborate more closely along the path from farm to fridge. Dairy processors, such as Agropur, are attempting to make dairy farms more sustainable by acting as intermediaries between farmers and manufacturers.
Customers are asking processors for more information about a farm’s carbon impact and how to reduce it. Major food producers are worried about the quantity of carbon emitted into the environment, which is a question that their customers are asking. Farmers are engaged in sustainability, and when consumers inquire about programs to promote sustainability, the discourse has been positive.
Large food producers aim to profit from farmers’ carbon credits, turning to processors such as Agropur and Valley Queen for assistance. Companies have roadmaps for where they want to go with their carbon footprint and ask Agropur to assist farmers in meeting various emissions reduction objectives via customized programs. Valley Queen, in conjunction with Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, undertook a pilot study on two dairy farms to assess a crop’s carbon impact from seed planting to milk delivery at the processing facility. Many dairy farms are already in the carbon business, utilizing a biodigester to transfer biogas to a pipeline and then selling the credits.
