Danone equipping smallholder dairy farmers with biodigesters
The aim is to reduce methane emissions
23 May 2025
2 minute read
By: Danone and Sistema.bio have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to equip 6,500 smallholder dairy farmers with biodigesters by 2030, supporting methane reduction on-farm, according to a company-issued press release.
This innovative solution will be deployed in several geographies where Danone operates, starting with Mexico, India, and Morocco.
Addressing the methane challenge in dairy farming
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after its release.
Dairy companies can play a meaningful role in reducing methane. This is because methane emissions from agriculture and livestock make up approximately 40% of global methane emissions, with dairy cattle representing an estimated 8% of these emissions.
In 2023, Danone was the first food company to align with the Global Methane Pledge to reduce 30% of methane emissions from fresh milk by 2030. Since 2020, we have already made good progress, achieving 25.3% methane reduction across our fresh milk supply.
This initiative marks a key milestone in the deployment of climate-smart technologies adapted to smallholder farmers, with positive environmental, economic, and social impact.
Biodigesters are a proven manure management solution to mitigate methane emissions. These systems transform livestock waste into renewable biogas and organic fertilizer. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower production costs, and decrease reliance on chemical fertilizers.
By converting organic waste into valuable resources at farm level, biodigesters also reduce the risk of soil and groundwater pollution. The resulting natural fertilizer improves soil health and supports more efficient water use.
"The biodigester technology has remarkable advantages, it allows us to use the processed liquid as natural fertiliser in our fields dedicated to cereals and legumes or fodder mix, and it has show extremely positive results," said Othmane Essaker, a dairy farmer in Morocco. "I truly hope this technology will be made available for all farmer so that more people can benefit from it."
By delivering locally adapted, high-impact solutions, Danone is reaffirming its longstanding commitment to its farming partners. We’re doing so by supporting them to build a more sustainable and resilient agricultural model.
