Valio and DSM announce collaboration on methane reduction

15-Dec-2020 - Last updated on 15-Dec-2020 at 11:16 GMT

A quarter of a teaspoon of Bovaer per cow per day suppresses the enzyme that triggers methane production in a cow’s rumen and reduces enteric methane emission by approximately 30%.

Valio, Finland’s largest dairy cooperative, and Netherlands-based Royal DSM, have signed a collaboration agreement to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy production in Finland.

Valio said it wants to improve animal and human welfare, while taking active measures to reduce its environmental and climate impacts. The cooperative is aiming to make its dairy value chain carbon-neutral by 2035. The collaboration with DSM is one of the steps to reach this ambition.

Over the past 10-years, DSM has developed a feed additive, Bovaer, which reduces enteric methane emissions from cattle by approximately 30%. DSM is working with partners from the dairy and beef value chain to prepare for market introduction. The activities include joint trials to confirm effectiveness in local farming systems, co-development of low-carbon dairy products, and establishment of business models.

The collaboration with Valio is a step towards market introduction.

Valio and DSM said they are collaborating in an end-to-end demonstration scenario to develop, build and test Bovaer in the Valio production and marketing systems. The activities in this trial are tracking animal and milk performance parameters and calculating the eco footprint reduction. Valio will conduct quality and processability assessments to qualify Bovaer as a feed additive for use on its farms.

Juha Nousiainen, head of Valio’s climate program, said, “DSM has invented a promising solution to drastically improve the GHG footprint of cows. This solution for reducing enteric methane will be an important building block to reach our ambitions for carbon neutral milk. We are looking forward to the collaboration.”

Mark van Nieuwland, global program head for DSM, said, “We are excited that we can support Valio in its ambitions to move to carbon neutrality by 2035.”

Bovaer is a feed additive for cows (and other ruminants, such as sheep, goats, and deer) researched and developed over 10 years by DSM.

A quarter of a teaspoon of Bovaer per cow per day suppresses the enzyme that triggers methane production in a cow’s rumen and reduces enteric methane emission by approximately 30%.

Bovaer is awaiting EU approval and is expected to be available in the Finnish market in 2021.