Milk and dairy production

UK livestock farmers must endeavour to reduce energy, production and supply chain emissions, using improved husbandry practices and technologies to deliver a balance between economic viability, environmental responsibility and social acceptability.

• Milk producers and processors should address the wider environmental impacts of a complex supply chain, with the majority of emissions (including Scope 3) linked to milk production. Thus, farmers have to work closely with the dairy processing sector to reduce these emissions.
• Ruminant livestock production is recognised as being a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and in particular methane. Dairy farmers must demonstrate action to reduce emissions, and where possible to sequester carbon in soils that support milk production.
• The UK dairy sector needs to work with other sectors and stakeholders to develop improved tools for greenhouse gas quantification and benchmarking. The Global Warming Potential (GWP*) model which reflects the lifetime of methane in the atmosphere more accurately measures livestock emissions.
• Based on the COP26 Global Methane Pledge, there is an urgent need for increased research into curbing bovine emissions and improved handling and storage of manures, including covered stores, low emission spreading equipment and on-site anaerobic digestion.
• If the UK dairy farming sector can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, backed by robust data, and improve its supply chain sustainability credentials, it can create opportunities to sell more environmentally benign products in expanding home and export markets.
• Changes in dairy farming practices and management will be driven by farmers who show a desire to harness novel technologies and innovation such as methane reducing feed additives, targeted application of slurries and decarbonisation of fossil fuel derived fertilisers. Companies and farmers prepared to invest in change need reassurance that commercial benefits will justify the costs.

The dairy sector is under pressure from a number of quarters in relation to its environmental impacts. The industry needs to address its carbon footprint and reduce methane emissions while dealing with commodity price inflation, consumer concerns and dietary changes, including the rapid development of the plant-based milk sector. Concerns over diet, food intolerance or allergies and other factors are fuelling this new market.

Reducing emissions from dairy production

Efforts to curb emissions across the UK dairy sector need a more integrated approach and improved collaboration between milk producers and processors. Sustained emissions reduction requires collective action across the supply chain. Emissions reduction should be part of ELM funding to encourage farmers to curb emissions without undermining farm viability.

With global milk production projected to grow by 1.7% per annum, consumers will expect much of this additional output to come from sustainable supply chains. Milk processors will need to work closely with their farmer suppliers if they are to create opportunities for the UK dairy sector to meet expanding home and global demand for sustainable dairy produce.

Emissions from UK milk production are already significantly lower than the global average, based on efficient, wellrun dairy farm businesses. With early emissions reduction across the dairy supply chain, the UK could become a leader in low carbon dairy products supply. For processors this includes helping producers to cut farm level (or Scope 3) emissions.

Use of data, farming practices and dairy emissions

Efforts to improve the sustainability credentials of UK dairy farms by using reliable and robust data is essential if the UK dairy sector is to develop premium export sales. This will add significant value for the UK dairy sector, but the milk processors need to support their farmer suppliers by giving them the confidence to invest in effective emissions reduction. Based on AHDB and FAO data, UK CO₂e output per litre is 1.25 kg, against a global industry standard of 2.5 kg.

Alongside changing husbandry practices and improved access to data, the development of the Global Warming Potential (GWP)* metric allows better comparison of the various greenhouse gases and a more accurate measure of their climate impact. Systems change in ruminant livestock farming needs to reflect the COP26 commitment to reduce global methane emissions.

Dairy processors such as Arla and First Milk have made carbon pledges across their businesses and are engaging with their suppliers to deliver improvements, while investing in emissions reduction at their sites and transport of dairy products. However, as farm emissions account for the majority of scope 3 emissions, processors need better farm level emission targets.

Sustainability transition on dairy farms needs to include changes to farming practices as well as improved livestock management systems. Benchmarking and sharing knowledge between farms should be encouraged, alongside demonstrators showing the benefits of switching to technologies, products and practices that can replace fossil fuels or curtail emissions.

Systems change at farm level will include enhanced cattle breeding to curb climate impacts, including yield per cow and improved health measures, while adopting solutions such as methane-reducing additives in feed and sequestration of carbon in soils.