Key Takeaways:
- Ajinomoto and Danone have entered a strategic partnership to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the dairy supply chain.
- The initiative uses Ajinomoto’s AjiPro®-L, an innovative lysine formulation, to reduce feed costs and lower GHG emissions from dairy farming.
- AjiPro®-L reduces carbon dioxide emissions from soybean meal procurement by approximately 20% and decreases nitrous oxide emissions from manure by 25%.
- The partnership supports Danone’s “Partner for Growth” program, aiming to improve sustainability in milk production while boosting farmer profitability.
- The solution is being introduced to Danone’s farmers in Spain, Brazil, the United States, Egypt, and Morocco, with plans for further GHG quantification tools.
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and Danone have announced a global strategic partnership aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the milk supply chain through the use of Ajinomoto’s innovative lysine formulation, AjiPro®-L. This partnership is part of Danone’s “Partner for Growth” program, which focuses on improving the sustainability of milk production while enhancing the profitability of farmers.
AjiPro®-L: Reducing Emissions and Costs
AjiPro®-L is a cutting-edge lysine formulation designed to enhance the absorption of this essential amino acid in cows, contributing to lower feed costs and broader GHG reduction. By optimizing the cow’s diet, AjiPro®-L reduces the need for high-protein, high-cost feeds such as soybean meal, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 20%*1 associated with soybean meal cultivation and procurement. Additionally, it reduces nitrous oxide emissions from manure by around 25%*1.
This innovative solution also has the potential to significantly reduce methane emissions from cows when combined with methane-reduction additives. Studies have shown that the combination of AjiPro®-L with methane-reducing feed additives can amplify methane reduction by approximately 30%*2, making it a valuable tool in addressing methane emissions from dairy operations.
Supporting Sustainability in Dairy Farming
Ajinomoto and Danone’s collaboration provides a critical tool for reducing on-farm GHG emissions and supporting dairy farmers’ profitability. Sumio Maeda, Executive Officer & Vice President of Ajinomoto Co., Inc., emphasized the company’s commitment: “Leveraging our expertise in amino acids, we developed the AjiPro®-L solution to help reduce feed costs and GHG emissions not only for our partners but for the entire dairy and beef industry.”
Jean-Yves Krummenacher, Chief Procurement Officer at Danone, highlighted the dual benefits of the partnership: “With partners like Ajinomoto Co., we are expanding our toolkit of solutions that reduce GHG emissions on farms while improving farmers’ margins, supporting their resilience.”
A Global Initiative
Ajinomoto and Danone have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and are introducing AjiPro®-L to Danone’s contracted farmers in Spain, Brazil, and the United States, as well as to the company’s own farmers in Egypt and Morocco. This global initiative marks a significant step in both companies’ efforts to contribute to sustainable farming practices and mitigate global warming.
The partnership aims to expand the use of AjiPro®-L as part of broader GHG reduction strategies. In the future, Ajinomoto and Danone will work together to incorporate this solution into tools that quantify GHG reductions, further supporting their shared goal of advancing sustainability in agriculture.
