Climate change shifts dairy farming practices, altering milk quality and cheese flavour

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1. https://www.earth.com/news/grass-scarcity-alters-cow-feed-and-dairy-products/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
2. https://time.com/6303858/extreme-weather-farmers-effects/ - Extreme weather conditions, such as heat waves and prolonged droughts, are significantly affecting small farmers in the U.S., leading to financial instability and operational challenges. Jason Schmidt, a dairy farmer in Kansas, has seen a 15-20% reduction in milk production, which, coupled with soaring feed and operational costs, has impacted his farm's financial viability. Farmers are struggling to maintain crop yields and livestock health as temperatures rise, and precipitation becomes more inconsistent. The drought conditions in Kansas have led to reduced wheat harvests, with yields dropping drastically. Industrial agriculture practices have also degraded soil health over the years, compounding current problems. As small farmers sell land and livestock due to financial pressures, the need for integrated conservation practices and more resilient agricultural systems becomes critical. Farmers seek support from government programs, including provisions in the Farm Bill and initiatives funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, to sustain their operations and adapt to changing climatic conditions.
3. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/food-brands-investors-scramble-stave-off-risk-stranded-assets-2024-08-22/ - The food industry faces significant risks due to climate change, and it significantly contributes to methane emissions. The Smith School for Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University warned a decade ago about agricultural facilities' risk of becoming stranded assets. The risks include physical impacts like drought, heatwaves, and flooding, and transition risks like stricter regulations and changing consumer tastes. The livestock sector, a key methane emitter, is highly susceptible to volatile feed prices and emerging plant-based meat alternatives, with up to half of the largest companies potentially running at a loss by 2030. Companies and investors are currently struggling to address these challenges due to a gap in understanding and complacency, as noted by experts like Isobel Rosen from FAIRR and Nusa Urbancic from Changing Markets Foundation. However, some companies, like Mars, are proactively mitigating these risks through sustainable sourcing and emission reduction commitments. The potential for new regulations and frameworks, like the EU Deforestation Regulation and Sustainable Markets Initiative's blended finance framework, could drive more significant change. Investors show interest in technological advancements, although more comprehensive measures are needed to address the systemic volatility induced by climate change.
4. https://apnews.com/article/375e373a4b55e604c474cd2189546180 - In Honolulu, Hawaii's Parker Ranch is pioneering the use of farmed red algae, or limu kohu, to dramatically reduce methane emissions from cattle, cutting these emissions by an average of 77% in a six-month trial conducted by Symbrosia. This innovative approach to mitigating greenhouse gases has spotlighted Hawaii in the growing international seaweed farming industry. Anticipated to be worth $12 billion by 2030, this sector is garnering significant public and private investments, including over $2.2 million in federal grants for Symbrosia to scale its operations. The algae, Seagraze, is being incorporated into the diets of cattle, potentially reducing methane emissions globally. The initiative is also supported by other major dairy and beef producers like Organic Valley and Ben & Jerry’s. The broader implications include not only environmental and economic sustainability but also enhanced livestock productivity. Hawaii’s favorable year-round climate is advantageous for seaweed growth, promising frequent harvests and regular product shipment. As researchers continue to explore the multifaceted benefits of seaweed, the industry represents a significant opportunity for both environmental progress and economic gains.
5. https://www.ft.com/content/5261df64-35dd-4d52-a331-bc5dad748c1b - Peder Tuborgh, CEO of Arla, Scandinavia's largest dairy producer, states that uncertainty about European environmental regulations is hindering investment in food production, raising prices, and causing a drop in milk production. Arla, a cooperative of over 12,500 dairy farmers, experienced a 1% decrease in European milk production last year. Tuborgh warns that continually unclear long-term farming regulations prevent farmers from investing in new infrastructure, contributing to supply-demand imbalances and potential inflation. The EU's ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, including possible emissions taxes for the agricultural sector, remain undefined. Denmark has already imposed a carbon tax on farming, charging cattle owners for emissions. Farmers’ protests against stringent environmental rules have led the European Commission to relax some targets and standards. Meanwhile, the UK's post-Brexit farming subsidy system focuses on environmental incentives, potentially reducing food production. Arla continues to implement its own model, rewarding environmentally friendly practices. Despite rising dairy prices boosting revenue forecasts, Tuborgh notes the potential negative impact on demand. Additionally, a UK boycott over Arla’s methane-reducing feed additive trial did not affect revenues.
6. https://time.com/6199318/milk-alternatives-microbes-perfect-day/ - Global milk production is growing, but it significantly impacts the environment through deforestation, polluted waterways, and greenhouse gas emissions. As an alternative, precision fermentation—a process using genetically modified microbes to produce proteins similar to those in cow's milk—offers a solution. Lizanne Falsetto's Betterland Milk, utilizing this process, will launch soon. Perfect Day, a food technology company, produces whey protein through precision fermentation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 97% and water usage by 99% compared to traditional methods. Betterland Milk promises to offer the same functionality as cow's milk without lactose, cholesterol, or methane, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers despite its higher price. With increasing investments and technological advancements, alternative proteins could significantly reduce global emissions and promote sustainable food production.
7. https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2014/november/greater-heat-stress-from-climate-change-could-lower-dairy-productivity - In many parts of the United States, climate change is likely to result in higher average temperatures, hotter daily maximum temperatures, and more frequent heat waves, which could increase heat stress for livestock. Heat stress can reduce meat and milk production and lower animal reproduction rates. Livestock producers can mitigate heat stress with shade structures, cooling systems, or altered feed mixes, but these methods increase production and capital costs. Dairy cows are particularly sensitive to heat stress; higher temperatures lower milk output and milk quality. A recent ERS study quantifies the costs of climate change-induced heat stress to the U.S. dairy industry. The study used operation-level economic data coupled with climate data to estimate how the local thermal environment affects milk output. The results indicate modest heat stress-related production declines over the next 20 years, with the largest declines occurring in the South.