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Dairy industry a solution to climate neutrality?

Kristen Sindelar
Mar 22, 2024
Mar 22, 2024

Anaerobic digesters — Methane digesters are among the innovations helping reduce the dairy industry's greenhouse-gas emissions. They also convert waste into fertilizer and renewable energy.
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Amidst the heightening concern with greenhouse gas emissions, the dairy industry has an important message they need to share: “Cows are not the problem, but they are part of the solution.”

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Carbon markets dairy 1.JPG — Achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050 is one of three industry-wide goals set for the dairy industry.
Image from Elanco Animal Health

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Carbon markets dairy 2.JPG — Livestock account for 4% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., according to the USDA.
Image from Elanco Animal Health

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Carbon markets dairy 3.JPG — Milk is a nutrient-dense source of nutrition and has the highest ratio of nutrient density to greenhouse gas emission of beverages.
Image from Elanco Animal Health

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The Climate Source

Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.