GHG Emissions, Industrial - May 9, 2022
Dairy Companies Use Seaweed to Cut Emissions
Three dairy companies -- Ben & Jerry's, Straus Family Creamery, and Clover Sonoma -- signed deals with Blue Ocean Barns to use its natural seaweed supplement for their cows as a method to cut the GHG footprint of their farm operations.
The Blue Ocean Barns supplement, BrominataTM, is a dehydrated form of a red seaweed that is proven to safely cut cows' methane emissions from burps by more than 80%, without changing the taste of milk or meat, according to peer-reviewed publications. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) authorized commercial use of Brominata as a digestive aid for cattle earlier this spring.
A major reduction in livestock-generated methane gasses could significantly slow the progress of climate change, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
"We are working closely with food industry leaders eager to achieve rigorously verified and auditable greenhouse gas reductions within their own supply chains," said Joan Salwen, Co-Founder and CEO of Blue Ocean Barns in a statement. "Ben & Jerry's, Straus Family Creamery, and Clover Sonoma are pioneering companies directly engaging their farmers and processors to ensure their collective success in direct reduction of methane emissions."
Ben & Jerry's announced that it plans to reduce GHG emissions on 15 dairy farms to half the industry average by the end of 2024, including through the use of Brominata. Ben & Jerry's plans to then expand successful pilot project initiatives to farms across its global dairy supply chain.
"We believe in using the power of our business to create positive change," said Jenna Evans, Global Sustainability Manager for Ben & Jerry's. "The fact that Brominata is effective in small quantities and easy for farmers to use makes it both environmentally and economically sustainable.”
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