Spanish Dairy Cooperatives Aim for 30% Carbon Footprint Reduction by 2030

In the framework of the Congress of Agri-Food Cooperatives of Spain, held in Palma de Mallorca, eight major dairy cooperatives, which account for one-fifth of the country's milk production and processing, have pledged to cut their carbon footprint by 30% by 2030. The cooperatives involved include Aira, Central Lechera Asturiana, Covap, Kaiku, Coinga, Clun, Agrocantabria, and Cadí. This voluntary agreement, presented to the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas, aims to advance decarbonization and combat climate change, aligning with the sustainability strategies of leading European cooperatives.

Daniel Ferreiro, the president of the dairy sector of Cooperatives, highlighted that the cooperatives have been working on calculating and analyzing greenhouse gas emissions and have developed various improvement strategies. The commitment covers direct and indirect emissions in industrial plants, and further indirect emissions from dairy farming operations.

Ferreiro expressed confidence in the cooperatives' ability to meet their target due to their extensive participation in the product lifecycle and commitment to circularity. Families involved in dairy farming will benefit by becoming more competitive and establishing unique sustainability standards globally.

To achieve these goals, cooperatives have set an action plan, including systems for calculating carbon footprints throughout the milk life cycle and establishing tracking indicators and specific goals for 2030. Plans also include creating pilot farms, offering incentives for early adoption of sustainable practices, and promoting training in decarbonization measures.

Cooperatives Agro-alimentarias stressed the importance of collaboration within the sector to establish a more sustainable dairy model committed to the planet's future.