In conjunction with World Milk Day on June 1, Fonterra has rolled out Cow Codes, a campaign to raise awareness globally of the farmer-owned dairy co-operative’s sustainability and innovation initiatives to help reduce emissions.
Fonterra has an ambition to be net zero emissions by 2050 and is investing about US$1billion in sustainability projects over the next decade to further reduce its climate impact.
This year, World Milk Day highlights the work that is being done by the diary sector to accelerate climate action and contribute to global ambitions to tackle climate change.
“While we’re one of the lowest emissions producers of dairy in the world, we know we need to do more to address the methane challenge. The aim of Cow Codes is to show how Fonterra is playing a lead role in developing and trialling solutions to potentially reduce dairy emissions”, said Fonterra Brands Malaysia general manager Shekhar Rapaka.
A unique QR Cow Code named Chloe fronts its campaign and is designed using a Friesian cow’s distinctive black and white pattern. Chloe will appear in cities across the world, making people aware of Fonterra’s ambitions to be a leader in sustainable dairy.
Scanning Chloe’s QR Cow Code will lead people to a portal featuring educational and fun information around how Fonterra and its farmers are accelerating a more sustainable dairy farming model that is better for the environment.
This starts with New Zealand’s unique low-emissions, pasture-fed dairy system and extends to innovation efforts such as partnerships exploring how dietary additives including seaweed and ‘Kowbucha’ can reduce methane emissions generated by cows.
Fonterra uses pasture-based farming methods where grass-fed cattle roam New Zealand’s farms for 350 days of the year. This leads to well cared for, healthier cattle that live longer and use less vital resources like water and energy, compared to other methods.
“Fonterra’s mission is to be part of the solution on climate warming by reducing our methane emissions further. By showing the world how we are tackling the problem we hope to demonstrate that the dairy industry can actually contribute towards a resilient, low emissions economy whilst continuing to provide the nutritious goodness of dairy to the world,” added Shekhar.
Fonterra also has low use of antibiotics in dairy cows, and some of the lowest somatic cell counts in the world, creating high quality milk. No Fonterra cows are given hormones to produce extra milk – in fact, this practice is banned in New Zealand dairy farming.
Each Fonterra farmer has a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions profile for their farm, a tool that allows them to know exactly where their emissions are coming from for continuous improvement.
New Zealand’s natural pasture-based farming approach helps it to achieve one of the lowest on-farm carbon footprints, which is approximately one-third the global average.
Fonterra’s four key emissions reduction programmes are:
- Kowbucha – With AgResearch and the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium, Fonterra is working to tap into its large collection of dairy cultures to create new dairy fermentations called Kowbucha, which could inhibit the methogens that create methane in cows.
- Seaweed – With Australian organisation Sea Forest, Fonterra is working to understand if emissions can be reduced by incorporating seaweed into a cows’ feed.
- Plantain – with MPI and DairyNZ, Fonterra has expanded a promising trial with Nestle to include plantain in a cow’s diet to reduce the amount of nitrogen produced, reducing carbon emissions and improving freshwater quality.
- DSM – with Royal DSM, a global science company, Fonterra is testing whether DSM’s feed additive product Bovaer, which reduces methane emissions from cows by over 30% in non-pasture-based farming systems, can do the same in New Zealand’s pasture-based farming system.
In addition to the Cow Codes campaign, Fonterra Brands Malaysia has partnered with NGO, Yayasan Food Bank to promote sustainable and balanced meal plans for fifty B40 families impacted by the pandemic.
The “Eat well with Fonterra” program which kickstarted on June 10 with education and weekly groceries as well as balanced meal plans distribution to families located in Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) flats in Pantai Permai and Kampung Limau.
Fonterra’s in-house nutritionist and chef curated a 1-month recipe plan for breakfast and lunch to be provided along with the weekly groceries.
Fonterra Brands Malaysia human resource director Carolyn Lim said the pandemic has impacted many financially, with many low-income families rely on food banks to meet day-to-day expenses and prepare meals for their children.
“At Fonterra, our goal has always been to provide Malaysians with accessibility to proper nourishment. We want to deliver a sustainable solution that goes beyond monetary donations so that families can maintain a balanced diet at a minimal cost,” she said.
As part of Fonterra’s internal communication efforts, its employees contribute either by donating or volunteering to purchase groceries, in line with its guiding philosophy of creating ‘Good Together’.
