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%.
Natalie Smith, head of sustainable agriculture and fisheries at Tesco said the company was ‘delighted’ to be working on a project that could have ‘such a significant effect on emissions reduction in our supply chain’.
“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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