Accelerating progress in dairy’s decisive decade

As we near 2030, a key milestone for science-based corporate near-term targets, dairy companies are accelerating action to meet their emissions goals, with a growing focus on methane. Cutting methane emissions is one of the fastest levers to slow near-term warning due to this GHG’s short-lived nature and potency. The dairy sector is uniquely positioned to lead this charge.

Stepping into the second half of this decisive decade, the Dairy Methane Action Alliance (DMAA) is entering a new phase. Since DMAA’s launch in 2023, companies comprising the Alliance have made significant progress on the foundational work of measuring dairy methane emissions and publishing the world’s first Dairy Methane Action Plans (DMAPs). Last year, the alliance welcomed three new members, expanding the Alliance’s reach: Agropur, Idaho Milk Products and Savencia Fromage & Dairy. This step change in targeted methane action was underscored in October when DMAA received the International Dairy Federation’s Innovation in Climate Action in the Dairy Sector award, highlighting DMAA’s influence across the global dairy sector.

We recognize the significant advancement these companies have made toward transparency and action planning and now look to the next phase of work: implementation at scale and credible reporting of progress.

Recent momentum from DMAA companies

DMAA members are now translating their initial plans into measurable on-farm action. Bel Group shared in its 2025 DMAP that it has moved from pilot testing of the feed additive Bovaer to large-scale implementation. After pilots in France reduced enteric methane by between 29% and 42%, depending on the farm, Bel Group is scaling up in Slovakia, with the aim of deploying Bovaer to the majority of producers. This initiative, supplying milk used to make Babybel cheese distributed in Central Europe, is projected to cut 400 tonnes of methane emissions annually.

For another inaugural DMAA signatory, Danone, supply chain partnerships are a key pillar of its approach to addressing methane emissions. Through the company’s partnership with supplier FrieslandCampina, it is targeting a 44% reduction of on-farm GHG emissions through supporting and incentivizing on-farm measures such as innovative manure management. Danone also recently announced a new partnership with grocery retail group Ahold Delhaize USA, targeting a shared reduction in methane emissions from the dairy supply in selected Danone North America yogurt products. As dairy farms producing these products implement improved manure management activities, the Nature Conservancy will provide technical assistance and other support.  

EDF scaling action beyond DMAA 

As many companies move past pilots and planning, 2026 is poised to be the year of implementation. As we proceed through the decisive decade, the industry must now scale solutions that are financially viable for farmers.

To help unlock the capital needed for scale, EDF and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy are collaborating to develop The Dairy Impact Fund. This initiative builds on extensive input from farmers, dairy companies, agriculture lenders and more, including a report outlining eight financial models for financing sustainable dairy. The Dairy Impact Fund, initially to be rolled out in the United States, is a blended finance mechanism designed to enable catalytic capital providers and agricultural finance institutions to advance farmer adoption of on-farm manure management solutions. The fund will aim to combine favorable loan terms with supply chain incentives to make methane mitigation technologies more financially accessible for dairy farmers.

India, the world’s leading milk producer, also urgently needs scalable solutions to support its 80 million smallholder farmers facing severe climate challenges. With summers stretching up to five months, heat stress is a major threat and has the potential to cut production by 25%. To address this, EDF recently launched the Resilient Dairy Alliance (RDA) in India, which focuses on bolstering smallholder dairy productivity. The RDA is a platform for 17 leading cooperatives, farmer-producer organizations, private dairy processors and global dairy companies. Together, they aim to share what works, tackle common obstacles and scale solutions that increase productivity across the dairy sector to improve livelihoods, food security and the stability of the climate.  

Where do we go from here? 

Achieving 2030 targets requires expanding impact from individual farms to entire supply chains. The next phase of action requires broad value chain collaboration. Instead of operating in isolation, companies must align investments to create collective benefits for producers.

Partnerships like the Dairy Impact Fund as well as the Danone and Ahold Delhaize USA joint initiative put this model into practice. By co-investing in on-farm practices to target shared Scope 3 emissions, supply chain partners split the financial burden and collectively contribute to technical expertise, which actively de-risks the transition for farmers.

Ultimately, meaningful implementation also requires a broader toolbox. Expanding the range of available mitigation technologies and sending clear demand signals to bring them to market will determine whether the dairy sector can meet the scale of this challenge.