Valio, a leading dairy processor in Finland, has launched a five-year pilot program to achieve carbon-neutral milk production at four dairy farms. The initiative aims to reduce the carbon footprint of milk to zero by implementing sustainable practices and exploring commercial viability.
Valio, a leading dairy processing company in Finland, has initiated a groundbreaking five-year pilot program aimed at achieving carbon-neutral dairy production. This ambitious project involves four Valio dairy farms located in different regions of the country and seeks to test various strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of milk to zero.
As part of the pilot, Valio aims to explore the practical implications of climate action strategies on emissions from milk production. The initiative will assess how these actions integrate into daily farm operations and analyze their cost-effectiveness. With increasing demand for carbon-neutral products across the food supply chain, this pilot is timely and essential.
Participating farms will implement various methods to reduce methane emissions, calculate their carbon footprints, and promote regenerative farming techniques. Carbon flux instrumentation towers will be installed to monitor carbon sequestration and emissions in grasslands. Additionally, a biodiversity inventory will be conducted to inform plans for enhancing biodiversity on these farms.
The selected farms are situated in North Savo, Pirkanmaa, South Ostrobothnia, and North Ostrobothnia. With approximately 3,400 dairy farms under its umbrella, Valio aims to develop scalable solutions that can be replicated across its network. The company has set an ambitious target to produce carbon-neutral milk by 2035, recognizing that over 90% of emissions stem from farm activities.
The pilot also explores the commercial viability of carbon-neutral milk. Valio is investigating industrial customers’ interest in carbon-neutral milk, as commercial viability is crucial for wider adoption. With global food companies seeking to reduce emissions, Valio aims to help customers achieve their sustainability goals by providing lower-emission raw materials.
Valio’s climate strategy aims for a carbon-neutral milk chain by 2035, incorporating practices such as carbon sequestration in grasslands, biogas production from manure, and improvements in animal welfare and feed efficiency. The company has already trained over 1,500 carbon farmers in collaboration with the Baltic Sea Action Group.
Through this pilot, Valio is not only striving to achieve carbon neutrality but also setting an example for sustainable dairy farming practices worldwide.
