Sustainability on the farm

The farm's carbon footprint

Greenhouse gases are released during the production of milk. Our member dairy farmers work hard to reduce their carbon footprint. Together with our members, we create the sustainable solutions to do just that. We make every possible improvement to reduce our emissions. In 2050 we want to produce climate neutrally. That is why we want to have reduced our emissions by at least a third by 2030 (compared to 2015).

Lower emissions

All over the world, the activities of companies, production locations and individuals are causing greenhouse gas emissions. These cause the planet to get hotter, which changes our climate and puts ecosystems under pressure. On the farms, greenhouse gases are released during the consumption of energy and the cows' digestion process. We cannot ignore the fact that something has to change. That is why our member dairy farmers are working hard to reduce their footprint.

The three greenhouse gases

Out of all of the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most commonly known. This is the gas most people think of when talking about the ecological footprint. However, dairy farmers are also responsible for the emission of two other gases.

  • Carbon dioxide

    This greenhouse gas accounts for most of the emissions at dairy farms, for example through the consumption of electricity and diesel fuel.

  • Methane

    Cows release methane (CH4) via their manure. Although these emissions are lower than the CO2 levels, they have a greater effect on global warming. In terms of warming, a single kilogramme of CH4 is equal to 34 kilogrammes of CO2.

  • Nitrous oxide

    Nitrous oxide (N2O) is released when manure is injected into the soil. Here, too, the level is lower than CO2 emissions, but it has a greater impact on the greenhouse effect. In terms of warming, a single kilogramme of N20 is equal to 298 kilogrammes of CO2.

This is where greenhouse gases are released

Cows produce greenhouse gas emissions, but they are not alone in doing so. Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are released into the air in various places and during various processes on a dairy farm.

  • Production and purchase of feed and fertiliser

    Our member dairy farmers use machines for cultivation, transport and processing. These machines produce CO2 when they are burning fuel. In the production of fertiliser, N2O is released in addition to CO2, which is partly attributed to dairy farming. Fertilisers also cause emissions.

  • The cow's digestive process

    The feed that a cow eats is broken down by organisms in its gastrointestinal tract. This is how the feed is transformed into substances that the cow can digest. CH4 is released during this digestive process.

  • Fertilisation

    Both the manure from cows in the meadow and artificial fertilisers used by member dairy farmers release nitrous oxide and methane. These fertilisers are broken down to allow the plants to absorb the nutrients. Unfortunately, this process is not 100% efficient, because some of these nutrients are converted into nitrous oxide and methane.

  • Carbon in the soil

    In the current growing conditions, there is a balance between emissions and the capture of carbon in the soil. Organic matter is added to the soil, which increases the amount of carbon. Soil organisms use that as food. When absorbed, part of the carbon is converted to CO2. The other part of the carbon remains in the soil and is released when the soil is tilled. Learn more about carbon sequestration.

  • Use of electricity, gas and diesel

    A dairy farm is a business that uses a lot of fuels and generates energy. It also emits CO2 in the process, of course.

  • Manure from storage

    Manure accommodates all kinds of decomposition and digestion processes that emit gases. Of these gases, 90% is methane (CH4) and the other 10% is nitrous oxide (N2O).

  • Milk transport

    Lorry drivers transport fresh milk from our member dairy farms to production facilities. These lorries release CO2.

Measures to reduce our footprint

Save energy with green solutions

Lower energy consumption means fewer greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. And that makes a big difference. If all of our dairy farms reduce their energy consumption by half, their footprint per kilogramme of milk will be 3% smaller. For example, together with member dairy farmers, we are looking at how we can reclaim heat from milk and use energy-efficient lighting.

Generate sustainable energy

If the entire dairy industry switched to green electricity, we would reduce our footprint by 3%. A growing number of our member dairy farmers are energy producers in addition to being milk producers. They generate their own energy using solar collectors, solar panels, solar boilers and wind turbines, and by generating gas from manure.

Optimising agricultural practice

Our member dairy farmers can organise their operations more efficiently in several areas. Many of them are already doing just that. For example, they are optimising their water management, growing and using corn for feed instead of grass or leaving cows in the meadow longer. They are reducing their footprint considerably with these combined measures.

Emissions from manure storage

We are reducing the amount of emissions from manure by taking various steps. For example, we keep manure and urine separate, store the manure for a shorter time and bring it to the anaerobic digester sooner. Our goal is to achieve a 400-kilotonne reduction in CO2 emissions through the anaerobic digestion of manure. This is 25% of the greenhouse gas reduction necessary for our climate-neutral growth objective!

Improved monitoring

With effect from 2022, FrieslandCampina will make use of the KringloopWijzer livestock lifecycle calculation model developed and managed by Wageningen University & Research, supported by the Central Database KringloopWijzer, to report greenhouse gas emissions from milk production on member dairy farms in its Annual Report. For more information about this methodology, including statistical tests to check acceptability, and an elaboration of the variances in results, download the report below.

Three projects that help our member dairy farmers reduce their footprint

Thanks to the steps taken by member dairy farmers, approximately 3.000 members in the Netherlands are now producing green energy. In addition to using the energy on their own farms, it also powers passenger cars and local households. We support them in their efforts with several tools and programmes, such as the following:

The first steps have been taken

We have already reduced our emissions quite a bit, thanks to all of the adjustments our member dairy farmers are making in their organisation. The first steps in caring for nature have thus been taken. We will continue reducing greenhouse gases to create a good living environment for ourselves and future generations.

Carbon footprint

Sustainability on the farm

Producing energy from manure at the farm

Sustainability on the farm

Last modified on: 19/02/2023 16:04

Nourishing Pakistan

For now and for generations to come

Sustainability