Eco-Milk: Tasmania's Dairy Innovation Reduces Methane Emissions by 25%

Australia 22.07.2024

Source: The DairyNews

A family-owned dairy in Tasmania, Ashgrove, has pioneered the production of a branded milk, “Eco-Milk,” which is now available on supermarket shelves. This product is unique as it is produced by cows fed with a seaweed-based supplement that significantly reduces methane emissions, a major environmental concern in livestock farming.

Eco-Milk: Tasmania's Dairy Innovation Reduces Methane Emissions by 25%

The livestock industry is responsible for approximately 30% of global methane emissions, according to the United Nations. Innovations like seaweed supplements for cattle feed have the potential to mitigate these emissions but have yet to see widespread adoption due to their cost.

Since February, Ashgrove has been feeding around 500 of its cows — about 20% of its herd — with an oil containing a seaweed extract supplied by Tasmanian company Sea Forest. This supplement has been shown to reduce the methane released during digestion by about 25%, according to co-owner Richard Bennett. The cows produce roughly 10,000 liters of milk daily, part of which is sold as Eco-Milk across Tasmania, including at Woolworths, Australia's largest supermarket chain.

Eco-Milk is marketed as a premium product, priced at A$5.50 ($3.67) for a two-liter bottle, which is twenty-five cents more than regular full cream milk. Despite the higher price, sales have been positive, indicating a potential market for environmentally-friendly dairy products.

The success of Eco-Milk could pave the way for broader adoption of methane-reducing feed additives in the dairy industry. Currently, producers of these additives, which inhibit methane production by microbes in cows' stomachs, have invested significantly to scale up production for millions of animals. Notable attempts include French cheese maker Bel Group's initiative to feed an additive to 10,000 dairy cows in Slovakia, and trials by companies like JBS, Danone, and Fonterra, though none have yet implemented the additives on a large scale.

Sam Elsom, CEO of Sea Forest, emphasized the importance of consumer support for products like Eco-Milk. “If these products aren't supported, things will go back to usual, and the pace of decarbonization will be much slower,” he said.

Ashgrove’s Eco-Milk represents a significant step towards sustainable dairy farming, demonstrating that consumer demand for eco-friendly products can drive positive environmental change.