USA – Athian, a cloud-based carbon marketplace for the livestock industry, has announced that Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), the largest U.S. milk marketing cooperative, has become the first to purchase verified carbon credits in the livestock carbon insetting marketplace.
This marks a significant milestone in Athian’s carbon credit marketplace, creating a new avenue for dairy producers to contribute to sustainability and establish the value of cattle in environmental solutions.
The sale, facilitated by Athian, involves Texas dairy farmer Jasper DeVos, who utilized the first accepted protocol to generate carbon credits.
DeVos achieved this by implementing innovative feed management products and quantification tools from Elanco Animal Health, resulting in a reduction of nearly 1,150 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
This accomplishment is poised to set an industry precedent, showcasing the potential for the entire U.S. dairy industry to avoid 4.7 million metric tonnes of CO2e emissions annually.
DFA, as a cooperative, has taken a leadership role by establishing a science-based target (SBT) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the supply chain by 30% by 2030.
This aligns with the broader commitment of the dairy industry, facilitated through the Innovation Centre for U.S. Dairy, to become greenhouse gas neutral or better by 2050.
Dennis Rodenbaugh, President and CEO of DFA, expressed the significance of this development for dairy farmers, emphasizing their role as stewards of the land and applauding the Athian platform for enabling financial benefits from sustainability initiatives.
He highlighted the tangible impact of the science-based, third-party-verified system, providing an avenue for farmers to directly benefit.
“The new carbon market opportunity arrives at a critical juncture, offering farmers a scalable opportunity to earn money for their sustainability efforts, particularly crucial as farm sector income, including dairy, is forecasted to have decreased by over 20% in 2023,” he added.
Athian’s livestock carbon insetting marketplace provides dairy farmers of all sizes the chance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, quantify and validate their reductions, and sell resulting credits.
Jasper DeVos, praised the Athian platform as a critical step in recognizing and rewarding dairy farmers for their investments in a healthier environment.
“The platform not only accelerates the adoption of conservation practices but also supplements income, contributing to the long-term financial health of farms.”
The insetting model developed by Athian aligns with consumer demand for sustainable choices and benefits both farmers and the environment.
It comes as a response to the global need for increased animal protein production to address hunger and nutrient deficiencies while simultaneously reducing emissions.
