Valio Launches Groundbreaking Carbon-Neutral Dairy Farm Pilot: Aiming for Zero Carbon Footprint in Five Years

Valio has announced an innovative Carbon-Neutral Dairy Farm pilotdesigned to achieve a zero-carbon footprint for milk production within five years. This ambitious initiative involves four dairy farms across Finland, each participating in practical tests of carbon-neutral dairy production methods.

The pilot program aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various climate action strategies on emissions from milk production. By understanding how these actions integrate into daily farm operations, Valio hopes to assess their cost-effectiveness and overall impact. As the demand for carbon-neutral milkrises, the pilot will provide critical insights into how to meet emission reduction targets across the entire food chain.

Valio’s existing climate initiatives will inform the pilot, exploring ways to lower the carbon footprint of milk by reducing emissions and enhancing carbon sinks. The program will investigate how diverse practices can be broadly implemented in dairy farming and evaluate the commercial viability of carbon-neutral milk.

"Valio and its dairy farms have prioritised climate action since 2018. Although substantial progress has been made to cut emissions, we need more comprehensive practical insights into the impacts of our initiatives," says Robert Harmoinen, Development Manager from Valio's Climate team.

The pilot will involve implementing feeding solutions to reduce methane emissions, calculating carbon footprints for each farm, promoting regenerative farming practices, and engaging in biogas production while minimising feed and milk waste. Carbon flux instrumentation towers will be installed to monitor carbon sequestration in grasslands and emissions from soils, and a biodiversity inventory will inform improvement plans on the farms.

The pilot includes farms located in North Savo, Pirkanmaa, South Ostrobothnia, and North Ostrobothnia. Jaakko Luoma from the Luoma farm in Kauhajoki highlights the significance of grassroots knowledge, stating, "The change will be made at the dairy farms. It’s an honor to contribute to innovative solutions and research."

With a history of monitoring its carbon footprint using the Carbo® Farm calculator, the Luoma farm has already achieved a carbon footprint of 0.76 CO2e/kg ECM, lower than the average for Valio farms. Luoma emphasises that improved productivity and regenerative practices have driven this reduction.

Valio currently collaborates with approximately 3,400 dairy farms. According to Harmoinen, the pilot aims to identify the most effective methods for integrating sustainable practices into daily operations, making it easier for other farms to adopt these approaches as they gain practical experience.

Valio has set a target to produce carbon-neutral milk by 2035. Harmoinen believes this goal is achievable but acknowledges that significant efforts are still required. "Over 90% of emissions from milk production originate at the farm level, making on-farm actions crucial to our success."

During the pilot, Valio will also assess the market viability of carbon-neutral milk. Harmoinen explains, "We are investigating the interest of our industrial customers in carbon-neutral milk. For farm-level emission reductions to be adopted widely, they must be commercially viable."

The increasing demand for emission reduction across the entire production chain is clear. "International food companies are setting ambitious targets to cut their own emissions. By supplying them with lower-emission raw materials, we can support their sustainability goals," concludes Harmoinen.

By pioneering this carbon-neutral dairy initiative, Valio is taking significant strides toward sustainable dairy farming, demonstrating a commitment to reducing environmental impact while meeting consumer demand for eco-friendly products.