Kerry Group to slash dairy sector carbon footprint with US$6M sustainability program

03 Feb 2022 --- With carbon emissions on the rise, businesses rally to reduce their ecological footprint, which is why taste and nutrition giant Kerry has launched a €6 million (US$6.7 million) dairy sustainability program to support milk suppliers in transitioning to ecological friendlier farming practices.

The company aims to reach over two billion people with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030. A central element of this strategy is to work with suppliers to reduce emissions intensity by 30% across its supply chain.

The program will support the acceleration of sustainability initiatives in Ireland, driven by science and best practices. More than 3,000 farmers, milk suppliers of the company, will be given technical and financial aid to transition to sustainable farming practices.

 The expected outcome of the program is a significant reduction in carbon and ammonia emissions, improvements in water quality and enhanced biodiversity.

Realizing sustainable nutrition goalsKerry is aiming to create a sustainable dairy industry in Ireland by 2030. 
Milk suppliers are hard-pressed to produce for a growing population, while at the same time, dairy production is coming under increased environmental scrutiny. As one of the most carbon-efficient dairy producers globally, Kerry seeks to provide leadership to farmers to achieve climate targets.

“Consumers globally want to consume food more sustainably, and it is important to examine how we can deliver dairy in a better way for people and the planet,” says Pat Murphy, CEO of Kerry’s Dairy Business.

The company’s Our Beyond the Horizon sustainability strategy sets out targets, and the dairy business has committed to supporting milk suppliers with the adoption of sustainable actions. 

“We will continue to work with them (milk suppliers) to build upon that advantage and accelerate the enhancement of biodiversity and water quality across our catchment and in reducing carbon and ammonia emissions,” says Murphy. 

 “This dairy sustainability program underpins our ambition to work with our milk suppliers in achieving these targets and in forging a sustainable future,” he adds.

 Kerry Group launched Project Amata in 2021, alongside the UN’s World Food Program (WFP), aiming to enhance the production and availability of safe, sustainable milk for children and communities in the Gitega province of Burundi. Throughout the three-year program, Kerry experts and WFP staff will work together with farmers and the local community to build milk production capacity.

Edited by Inga de Jong