On Feb. 2, Pierre Lampron, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), announced that DFC is committing to a goal of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from farm-level dairy production by the year 2050.
As Lampron explained, we are bearing witness to the impacts of climate change firsthand on our farms and at our doorsteps. It is no longer a question of how our livelihoods will be affected by climate change, but rather a question of how we will be affected if we don’t act now.
Fortunately, our sector has a long history of environmental stewardship, and our net zero goal is sending a clear message to Canadians, consumers, stakeholders and governments: Dairy farmers are leaders, and we are part of the solution.
How will we reach this objective?
Reaching net zero will be done through emissions reduction and GHG removal offsets. Best management practices on farms related to soil health, water, biodiversity, waste and energy will contribute to improve our sector’s environmental stewardship.
There will also be new opportunities to explore.
To get us there, DFC is working with experts to lay out different pathways to net zero – because each farm is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Farms will be able to identify their best path forward, and Lampron stressed that farmers will not be alone in this effort: DFC will leverage partnerships and government programs, as well as provide tools and support.
Photo courtesy of DFC.DFC will be consulting dairy farmers to streamline and reduce the administrative burden, as well as to make sure farms can benefit from the funding and programming needed to achieve our net zero objective. Working with environmental organizations and government initiatives is foundational to our plans, as pursuing this goal cannot be a financial burden to dairy farmers.
Lampron stressed that net zero does not need to come at the expense of our competitiveness, either. We can be both profitable and sustainable. In fact, more and more dairy farmers are adopting “green strategies” that contribute to environmental sustainability while generating revenues through a circular economy.
Because of these efforts, it now takes 6% less water and 11% less land to produce a litre of milk than it did just a decade ago. We also lowered our GHG emissions by 7% in that same time frame. Few industries can report that kind of progress, and we should be incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together.
That’s why part of DFC’s outreach activities includes giving deeper meaning to what the Blue Cow logo represents by telling the story of dairy farmers as stewards of the land. We’re ensuring political and consumer support for our sector remains strong.
Where do we go from here?
Over the coming months, DFC will engage with members to develop a DFC Net Zero Roadmap with specific initiatives that can be deployed to reach our goal. This engagement will be important, as it will feed into the central theme of sustainability for our annual general meeting in July 2022. If you have questions about the development of this roadmap, email Communications
For more information on DFC’s Net Zero 2050 announcement, see the related news release at Dairy Farmers of Canada
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization representing Canadian dairy producers. DFC strives to create stable conditions for the dairy sector in our country. It also seeks to maintain policies that promote the sustainability of Canadian dairy production and promote dairy products and their health benefits. Visit Dairy Farmers of Canada for more information.
