Danone, Ajinomoto collaborate to reduce dairy sector emissions

FRANCE – Danone, a French multinational known for its brands like Activia and Actimel, has teamed up with Japanese food manufacturer Ajinomoto Group in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its milk collection network. 

This partnership focuses on leveraging feed-based solutions to cut emissions linked to dairy farming, one of the largest sources of methane, a potent GHG.

A central element of this collaboration is the use of AjiPro-L, an innovative feed supplement developed by Ajinomoto. 

This supplement is designed to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from manure by approximately 25%. When combined with a methane-reduction additive, the effect can be amplified by up to 30%, according to figures cited by the companies. 

Danone is already committed to addressing livestock-related emissions. Along with five other major dairy companies, it formed an alliance last year to tackle methane emissions, an initiative highlighted at the United Nations COP28 summit. 

This new partnership with Ajinomoto builds on those efforts, as the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to begin using AjiPro-L at Danone’s own farms in Egypt and Morocco, as well as its contracted farms in Spain, Brazil, and the United States.

The science behind AjiPro-L revolves around the efficient delivery of lysine, an essential amino acid, to the cow’s digestive system. 

Lysine plays a crucial role in cow nutrition and milk production, while also reducing the need for high-protein, high-cost feeds such as soybean meal.

Soybean cultivation is a carbon-intensive process, and reducing its use can have a broader impact on carbon emissions beyond just methane.

By optimizing the amino acid balance in cow feed, AjiPro-L allows farmers to cut down on excessive amino acids present in typical feed while maintaining milk output. 

This not only reduces emissions but also lowers feed costs for farmers, boosting their financial resilience.

 According to Jean-Yves Krummenacher, Danone’s Chief Procurement Officer, this partnership represents a dual opportunity: “On one hand reducing on-farm GHG emissions, whilst on the other, supporting farmers to improve their margin, and as a result, boost their resilience.”

For Ajinomoto, the collaboration highlights their expertise in amino acids and their potential role in creating sustainable farming practices. 

Sumio Maeda, Vice President of Ajinomoto’s Bio & Fine Chemicals division, emphasized that the AjiPro-L solution benefits not just Danone but the broader dairy and beef industries, reducing both feed costs and GHG emissions.

The collaboration also dovetails with Danone’s broader sustainability goals. Last year, the company became a corporate funder of the Global Methane Hub’s Enteric Fermentation R&D Accelerator. 

The initiative, which has raised $200 million in funding, focuses on finding scalable and practical solutions for reducing methane emissions from livestock digestion. 

Danone has set ambitious environmental targets, aiming for zero net carbon emissions by 2050. In January 2023, it also announced a specific goal to reduce the methane emissions associated with the fresh milk used in its products by 30% by 2030.

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