Valio, a leading Finnish dairy and food company, has committed to reducing the carbon footprint of its milk production to zero by 2035. This ambitious goal involves a comprehensive climate program focusing on emission reductions, carbon sequestration, and the development of circular economy solutions. Valio’s climate targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, aligning with the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The company actively monitors greenhouse gas emissions throughout its production chain and collaborates with various partners to implement sustainable practices.
Valio is participating in the CANMILK project to advance its commitment to sustainable dairy farming by addressing methane emissions, which significantly contribute to the carbon footprint of milk production. The CANMILK project focuses on developing innovative solutions to capture and decompose methane present in barn air.
Valio’s Role in the CANMILK Project:
- Expertise in Dairy Production: Valio brings extensive experience in dairy farming to the project. This expertise is crucial for effectively develop new technologies for dairy farms.
- Farmer Engagement and Data Collection: Valio plays a key role in gathering and analyzing farmers’ opinions and concerns regarding the proposed CANMILK technology. This ensures that the solutions developed are practical and acceptable to those directly involved in dairy farming.
- Barn Air Measurements: In collaboration with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Valio conducted measurements of methane concentrations in barn environments. These measurements are essential for understanding methane production dynamics and assessing the effectiveness of the proposed plasma technology.
Through its active participation in the CANMILK project, Valio aims to develop and implement effective strategies to reduce methane emissions in dairy farming.
Valio is also a partner in the REPAIR project, which aims to develop and implement technologies to remove non-CO₂ greenhouse gases, particularly methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), from the atmosphere and the agricultural sector, especially in barn air. In this project Valio contributes its extensive expertise in dairy farming and sustainability to the project.
Through these comprehensive efforts, Valio is working towards a sustainable future for dairy production, balancing environmental responsibility with agricultural practices.
Key Initiatives in Valio’s Climate Program:
- Emission Reductions: Valio aims to halve the carbon footprint of milk produced by its farms by 2030. In addition the goal is to decrease emissions from milk collection logistics by nearly 30% and reducing energy consumption at factories by almost half.
- Carbon Sequestration: The company promotes carbon farming practices, such as cultivating grasslands that capture atmospheric carbon dioxide and store it in the soil. Over 1,500 dairy farms are implementing these practices on approximately 130,000 hectares.
- Innovative Feeding Solutions: Valio has introduced feeding strategies that reduce methane emissions from cows. For instance, incorporating specific feed additives can lower methane emissions during digestion by up to 30%, resulting in a 10–15% reduction in the milk’s carbon footprint.
- Biogas Production: In collaboration with energy company St1, Valio is advancing plans to produce biogas from manure. This renewable energy source can replace fossil fuels in heavy transportation, contributing to emission reductions in the logistics sector.
- Carbon-Neutral Dairy Farm Pilot: Valio has launched a five-year pilot program involving four dairy farms across Finland. The initiative tests various climate actions to assess their effectiveness, practicality, and cost-benefit impacts, aiming to develop scalable solutions for carbon-neutral milk production.