December 6, 2024

Arla working with retailers in UK to trial methane-reducing cattle feed

Arla is partnering with major retailers in the United Kingdom – Morrisons, Aldi and Tesco – to trial methane-reducing cattle feed, as it aims to cut emissions in the dairy sector.

The feed additive, called Bovaer, is reported to reduce enteric methane emissions from cows by an average of 27%. As part of its FarmAhead customer partnership initiative, Arla will collaborate with retail partners to explore how feed additives can be integrated into standard feeding routines.

The project includes approximately 30 Arla farmer-owners and aims to improve understanding of how feed additives can be scaled to a wider group of farmers.

The trial will offer practical insights into scaling the use of feed additives, their impact on farm operations, and opportunities for greater collaboration with the feed industry.

Paul Dover, UK agricultural director at Arla Foods, said: "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 and grocery industry in this kind of initiative highlights the support there is for British farmers in transitioning to more sustainable farming methods.

"We are extremely excited about this new collective way of working alongside our retail partners and the possibilities that feed additives, such as this one, present. However, 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 comment, Morrisons, Aldi and Tesco stated: "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."

- FoodBev Media