India's Resilient Dairy Alliance Aims to Enhance Climate Adaptation

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) have launched the Resilient Dairy Alliance, a pioneering effort to embed climate resilience within India's dairy industry. This initiative reflects a strategic shift towards addressing climate risks such as heat stress, water scarcity, and feed volatility, which pose threats to productivity and farmer livelihoods.

Dairy plays a crucial role in India's rural economy by supporting millions of smallholder farmers and contributing to national nutrition security. However, climate challenges, including rising temperatures and erratic rainfall, are increasing the risks for small and marginal producers. The Resilient Dairy Alliance aims to implement climate-smart practices to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity.

The alliance will focus on developing sustainable and climate-resilient feed strategies, improving manure and waste management systems, and optimizing water use at both farm and processing levels. Additionally, data-driven tools for emissions measurement and risk assessment will be developed to track progress and inform policy decisions.

Industry leaders emphasize the dual challenge of meeting rising consumer demand for milk and dairy products while minimizing environmental impact. Pilot projects and demonstration models will be crucial in showcasing that sustainability and profitability can coexist.

The collaborative design of the alliance, combining CII's industry reach and EDF's climate expertise, aims to accelerate the adoption of best practices across various dairy systems in India. Reliable data and measurement systems are highlighted as essential for evaluating interventions and aligning with climate targets.