GDP Bulletin November / December 2022
GDP Contingent Shared Dairy’s Sustainability Story at COP27
GDP Contingent Shared Dairy’s Sustainability Story at COP27
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP27) was held November 6-18, 2022, in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, and Global Dairy Platform (GDP) was there actively telling dairy’s sustainability story. With the unrest in eastern Europe and the ensuing issues of nutritional security, this COP placed greater emphasis on nutrition and agriculture, which allowed the sector to share how dairy is a force for good.
GDP and partners reported on progress of Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (P2DNZ) and how the global climate initiative is achieving positive results in many regions and accelerating action in others. P2DNZ is backed by more than 140 leading organizations, governments and academic institutions, including the 10 largest dairy companies in the world. Collectively, supporters represent more than 40% of global dairy production throughout the supply chain, making it one of the largest initiatives of its kind in agriculture.
At COP27, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), International Fund for Agricultural Development, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and GDP approved US $3.5 million of project preparation funding to support the development of a regional, public-private livestock program for Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. GCF’s contribution of US $1.1 million complements the co-financing from the partners, with the objective of developing a blended finance initiative to leverage US $400 million in financing for the transition of the region’s dairy systems to lower emissions and create climate resilient pathways.
Two of the major COP27 events featuring P2DNZ included:
An official UNFCCC side event, “The global dairy sector’s climate ambition and progress towards achievement of the Paris Agreement,” co-hosted by GDP, the International Dairy Federation and Uruguay.
To view the meeting recording:
A side event at the FAO Pavilion, “Progress Towards Pathways to Dairy Net Zero.”
To view the meeting recording:
Pathways to Dairy Net Zero Announces Research Progress
Research commissioned as part of P2DNZ has identified six primary dairy production systems throughout the world, along with potential mitigation options and their estimated impact on emissions reduction. The research is led by the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) in close collaboration with FAO.
Together they have defined the composition of GHGs emitted by the various dairy production systems around the world and learned there is variability by system. For instance, methane is a large proportion of GHGs in pastoral and agropastoral systems, driven largely by enteric fermentation. However, high-input, high-output production emits a different mix of GHGs from not only enteric fermentation but also manure management, animal feed and energy use.
Although mitigation options vary by each dairy production system, some of the primary pathways include improving animal health, increasing feed digestibility, enhanced manure storage and treatment, more efficient fertilizer use and the potential adoption of methane-inhibiting feed additives.
For the COP27 news release announcing P2DNZ progress:
For a new infographic on P2DNZ:
Attend GDP Annual Meeting to Hear Implications for Dairy Following COP27
GDP Sets November 30 for 2022 Annual Meeting
Please plan to attend GDP’s Annual Meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. US CT. The virtual meeting is being held twice to accommodate a variety of time zones. Please choose the best time for you.
The agenda will include an important report on COP27’s implications for dairy, as well as two panel discussions: one on sustainability progress in developed markets featuring speakers from Royal FrieslandCampina, Land O’Lakes and Fonterra; and the other on actions underway in developing economies featuring experts from FAO and the IFAD (tbc).
Attendees will also learn more about the new Global Dairy Impact Report that measures the sector’s socio-economic impact, including dairy’s contributions to farmer livelihoods, employment along the dairy value chain, consumers’ livelihoods and government revenue. Other timely updates about dairy activity globally will be provided, including nutritional security developments and the progress of the Dairy Sustainability Framework and Dairy Nourishes Africa initiative.
To view the agenda and register:
Dairy Sector – A Snapshot
1 billion people strong
600 million people living on farms
400 million additional people are supported by the full time jobs that are created in support of dairy farming
240 million people are employed, directly or indirectly, in the dairy sector
133 million dairy farms
