Retailer says new supplement will help milk producers lower carbon footprint.
Tesco is to trial a methane-reducing feed supplement in a bid to lower the carbon footprint of its milk producers.
The retailer announced its new plan in partnership with one of its key UK dairy suppliers, Grosvenor Farms in Cheshire – one of the original members of the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) – where 400 cows will now have the supplement added to their feed.
The feed will incorporate an ingredient called Bovaer® Supplied by dsm-firmenich, it has been shown to decrease methane emissions by up to 30%. If implemented across the whole of Grosvenor Farms, it could lead to an overall reduction in farm greenhouse gas emissions of up to 12%.
“It is only by working alongside our suppliers and farmers that we will achieve our shared net zero ambitions, while continuing to provide our customers with quality British produce, including 100% British milk.”
The supplement works by suppressing the enzymes responsible for producing methane, leading to a reduction in the amount of methane produced as the cow digests its food with no impact on animal welfare.
As a result of the enhanced feed, the carbon footprint of each cow is projected to reduce by about 1.3 tonnes CO2e annually. If the four-month trial is successful, Tesco hopes to scale up the use of Bovaer® across the TSDG, reducing emissions and helping to create a more sustainable food system.
Mark Roach, managing director of Grosvenor Farms, said: “We see commercial and environmental sustainability as mutually reinforcing, producing high-quality milk while also working to improve soil health, eliminate pollution and recycle waste.”
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