Agolin and Barry Callebaut trial method for low-carbon milk

Swiss company Agolin has teamed up with chocolate producer Barry Callebaut and carbon reduction verification provider Gold Standard (GS) to establish a methodology in which dairy producers can become suppliers of low-carbon milk.

Two pilot studies were established, one in the Netherlands and one in the US, involving 65 farms and over 15,000 cows in total. The Agolin Ruminant feed additive was used in the trial to develop a methodology to quantify and certify CO₂ reductions.

The GS methodology confirmed an average reduction of 1200 MT over a six-month period in the Netherlands and a reduction of 500 MT by August 2020 in the US.

“I am very pleased that we have been able to develop a methodology with Agolin to credibly quantify and certify CO₂ reductions. This closes an important gap and provides a great basis for us to scale up this work with our partners,” said Oliver von Hagen, Director Of Sustainability Global Ingredients at Barry Callebaut Group.

Agolin claims its feed additive product can reduce the methane released by animals when it’s included in dairy and cattle feed at a rate of one gram per head each day for adult animals. The product is also claimed to improve feed efficiency, which means that the return on milk and meat per kilogram of feed is better.

“We are delighted to be part of this project and to work with Barry Callebaut towards their sustainability goals,” said Beatrice Zweifel, Technical Director at Agolin.

“The work done through Gold Standard for this project combined with what we already know through many trials on Agolin Ruminant in dairy and beef animals allows us to facilitate sustainable production systems and we look forward to further growing the concept with industry.”

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