Photo from the Dairy Checkoff
A new Life Cycle Assessment provides the clearest picture yet of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. dairy industry, from feed production to the point where milk leaves the farm. The LCA highlights the progress made by U.S. dairy farmers between 2007 and 2020, showing that emissions per gallon of milk decreased by 13% even as milk production increased by 28%. It also establishes a robust baseline for measuring future reductions as the dairy industry pursues greenhouse neutrality by 2050.
According to the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, this is “the first of two new LCAs that together will track progress and guide action across the full dairy value chain – supporting our sustainability journey while delivering essential nutrition more efficiently than ever.”
Let’s take a closer look at the LCA and why it matters.
What’s different about the new LCA?
Unlike previous studies that relied on more general models and less granular data, the new LCA draws on the latest climate science, predictive models and industry data for more accurate estimates of key emissions sources, including enteric fermentation, manure and feed production. It also accounts for variations across 12 dairy regions, including diet, milk production rates and other performance metrics that impact emissions. The result is a more precise reflection of the current state of the industry, providing a reliable 2020 baseline for net neutrality targets.
What does the LCA tell us about progress to date?
The study highlights trends and improvements between 2007 and 2020. Key findings include:
- Between 2007 and 2020, the emissions intensity of milk production (i.e., emissions per gallon) decreased by just over 13%, reflecting improved efficiency and emissions management
- However, total emissions have increased by 9.5%, primarily due to a 28% rise in total milk production. According to the study, this “demonstrates progress in emission reductions per unit output but also underscores challenges posed by increased production for achieving GHG neutrality targets.”
- Feed-related emissions, including concentrate, forage, milling/mixing, and transport, account for the largest share of total emissions (35%). However, enteric fermentation represents the largest single source of emissions (27%).
How does the LCA support the U.S. dairy industry’s Net Zero goal?
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a precise and region-specific baseline for understanding current emissions, highlighting key areas that need improvement. This is essential for developing and implementing strategies to meet the industry’s goal of achieving net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050.
For instance, the findings related to enteric emissions, which are the largest single source of emissions, underscore the importance of targeting methane emissions from digestive processes.
Spatially Resolved Greenhouse Gas Emissions of U.S. Milk Production in 2020 was published in Environmental Science & Technology.