In a New Zealand first, Fonterra and Nestlé have launched a five-year project to create a commercially viable net zero carbon emissions dairy farm.
It will be run with Dairy Trust Taranaki with the aim of cutting emissions by 30 per cent by mid-2027 and a 10-year goal of net zero carbon emissions.
All aspects of farming operations will be examined on a 290-hectare demonstration farm that surrounds Fonterra’s Whareroa site.
Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell said the collaboration would help both companies accelerate progress towards their greenhouse gas emission goals.
“Part of our strategy is to lead in sustainability, and we aspire to be net zero by 2050. We know we will make bigger gains, for both the co-op and country, by partnering with others. Working with partners such as Nestlé is our best opportunity to create innovative solutions to local and global industry challenges.
“As well as our own goals, it’s important we help our customers achieve theirs. Nestlé has ambitious plans, and we look forward to working together to discover systems that could help our farmer owners to continue to build on the already good base they have,” Hurrell said.
Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell.
Nestlé New Zealand CEO Jennifer Chappell said the Taranaki farm would build on Nestlé’s work around the world to help transform the dairy industry.
“Dairy is our single biggest ingredient, and our vision is that the future for dairy can be net zero. To reduce our Scope 3 emissions, it’s critical we work with dairy farmers and their communities. For this reason, we have over 100 pilot projects with partners around the world, including in New Zealand, and 20 farms already striving towards the ambition of net zero emissions.
“Working towards a net zero farm means looking at all aspects of the farm, from cow nutrition to sequestering carbon. We will share what we learn on the journey across the dairy industry, with the goal of ultimately mainstreaming on-farm practices that will reduce the climate impact of the dairy industry.
“This will contribute to Nestlé meeting our goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, including reducing our emissions by 20 per cent by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030,” Chappell said.
The partnership also encompasses the launch of a greenhouse gas farmer support pilot program. It is a multi-year project that will see enrolled farms get additional support to implement changes aimed at lowering their on-farm emissions, which could include improved management of feed and pasture and enhanced milk production efficiency.
The opt-in pilot will start with around 50 farms and then be scaled up over the next three years.
