Dairy was in the spotlight today in Copenhagen at the Climate Change Summit when U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an agreement with U.S. dairy producers to accelerate adoption of innovative manure to energy projects on American dairy farms.
“This historic agreement, the first of its kind, will help us achieve the ambitious goal of drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions while benefiting dairy farmers,” Vilsack said from Copenhagen. “Use of manure to electricity technology is a win for everyone because it provides an untapped source of income for famers, provides a source of renewable electricity, reduces our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, and provides a wealth of additional environmental benefits.”
The agreement was made between USDA and Dairy Management Inc.’s Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy with the goal of reaching a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020.
DMI CEO Tom Gallagher says memorandum came about because of the commitment of U.S. dairy farmers and the dairy industry to a sustainable future that includes both environmental and economic viability. “Sustainability goes hand in hand with our heritage of taking care of the land and natural resources while producing nutritious products that consumers want,” said Gallagher.
Under the agreement, USDA intends to increase the number of anaerobic digesters supported by USDA programs. Beyond promoting the digesters, the agreement will encourage research, and development of new technologies to help dairies reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Anaerobic digester technology is a proven method of converting waste products, such as manure, into electricity. The technology utilizes generators that are fueled by methane captured from the animal manure. Currently, only about 2 percent of U.S. dairies that are candidates for a profitable digester are utilizing the technology. Dairy operations with anaerobic digesters routinely generate enough electricity to power 200 homes.
3 Comments on “Dairy's Day in Copenhagen”
Seen your info:
Let us work hard…and together…to protect the small farmers…with their wunderfull, authentic, products.
Hundreds of years part of our culture.
Let us help them to stay in business, so that our grandchildren have the possibility to smell,eat and enjoy those foodproducts.
Indirectly can we help to protect the landscape, because the cheesemakers (mostly the women) give their passion, experience and network to their daughters.
It is similair on Kopenhagen: It is NOT TOO LATE…but we MUST do something!
Fons van den Hout…Have a good day.
http://www.kaasblog.nl or twitter/fonsvandenhout
cheese-expert since fifty years.
Seen your info:
Let us work hard…and together…to protect the small farmers…with their wunderfull, authentic, products.
Hundreds of years part of our culture.
Let us help them to stay in business, so that our grandchildren have the possibility to smell,eat and enjoy those foodproducts.
Indirectly can we help to protect the landscape, because the cheesemakers (mostly the women) give their passion, experience and network to their daughters.
It is similair on Kopenhagen: It is NOT TOO LATE…but we MUST do something!
Fons van den Hout…Have a good day.
http://www.kaasblog.nl or twitter/fonsvandenhout
cheese-expert since fifty years.
Seen your info:
Let us work hard…and together…to protect the small farmers…with their wunderfull, authentic, products.
Hundreds of years part of our culture.
Let us help them to stay in business, so that our grandchildren have the possibility to smell,eat and enjoy those foodproducts.
Indirectly can we help to protect the landscape, because the cheesemakers (mostly the women) give their passion, experience and network to their daughters.
It is similair on Kopenhagen: It is NOT TOO LATE…but we MUST do something!
Fons van den Hout…Have a good day.
http://www.kaasblog.nl or twitter/fonsvandenhout
cheese-expert since fifty years.