Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (P2DNZ) has developed the GHG Accounting Task Force, which is providing vital insight for dairy sector colleagues who are reviewing the GHG Protocol’s Land Sector and Removals Guidance (LSRG). During the last several months, the member-driven Task Force has reviewed components of the LSRG in the context of a diverse dairy sector with unique needs and provided robust input to the GHG Protocol consultation process.

There are several workstreams in process/planned, including Mass Balance/Sourcing Region, MRV Safeguarding, Land Carbon Losses/Carbon Opportunity Cost, and Biogas production and how this is addressed by the guidance.

GDP is now initiating a work program, in collaboration with SAI Platform, with the ambition to develop a standardized protocol for insetting so that actors along the dairy value chain adopt the same methodology (that will be developed in this workstream), thus increasing the efficiency of the reporting process within value chains.

To learn more, please visit the task force’s new webpage.

A GDP webinar in April and Perspective Paper in February featured preeminent nutrition scientists who provided insights on the latest dairy-related research for GDP members and others.

Dr. Connie Weaver, a distinguished research professor at San Diego State University, presented “The Dairy Matrix: Is the Whole Great than the Sum of its Parts?” during the quarterly webinar series on April 15 that was hosted by GDP Chief Science Officer Dr. Beth Bradley. Dr. Weaver discussed research around the dairy matrix, which is the multitude of reactions that occur between nutrients and other compounds in dairy foods, and the impact of processing on the nutritional/biological effects of dairy products. She focused on what is known about the dairy matrix, what isn’t, and what research we may consider to further advance our knowledge on this emerging area of investigation.

In its February Perspective Paper, GDP interviewed Dr. Alice Stanton, a professor at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Science, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. In the Q&A, she discussed why diets recommended by the Global Burden of Disease Risk Factor Collaborators, the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet and Health, and several others underestimate the importance of animal-sourced foods, including dairy. In recent years, she and several colleagues have been critical of data and assumptions used in publications that promote the premise that we must produce and consume far fewer animal-sourced foods if we are to improve the health of people and the planet.

GDP will produce Perspective Papers throughout the year; the latest one was released in late April, discussing why dairy is more sustainable than alternative plant beverages. The next webinar will take place in June; look for an announcement soon.