Danone’s procurement battles methane in African dairy

Danone has placed sustainable procurement at the heart of its climate strategy in African dairy supply chains, aiming to drastically cut methane emissions. Fresh milk, which contributes nearly 70% of the company’s dairy emissions, is the focal point. To achieve its goal of a 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030 (from a 2020 baseline), the company is deploying biodigesters through a partnership with Sistema.bio to reach 6,500 smallholder farmers by 2030. In 2024, Danone reported a 25.3% reduction in fresh-milk methane emissions compared to 2020, underscoring how supplier engagement, data collection, and investment in low-emission technologies are paying off. The strategy includes technical training in feed, herd, and manure management, upgrading of milk collection centres (with cold storage), and tools such as the Cool Farm Tool to monitor emissions in the supply chain.

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Danone’s approach showcases how procurement can shift from a cost-centre to a climate driver—by making environmental performance part of the terms of supplier contracts. The roll-out of biodigesters is particularly important: it both cuts methane (from manure decomposition) and offers by-product benefits (fertilizer, renewable energy), which can help farmer incomes. The marked drop in emissions to date suggests these interventions can scale. However, success depends on rigorous data tracking, continuous farmer support, and ensuring that smallholders are not left behind in technological upgrades. Danone’s model presents a blueprint not just for dairy firms in Africa but also for India’s vast smallholder dominated sector—where methane, feed efficiency, and cold chain quality remain major challenges for both emissions and milk quality.

SOURCE : DAIRYNEWS7X7 SEP 30TH 2025 Full story here