Ottawa, ON – As part of their commitment to achieve net zero from farm-level dairy production in Canada by 2050, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) have sponsored a one-year New Acre Project pilot to support farmers in building nature-based projects on marginal farmland. These projects, such as wetlands, grasslands and tree planting, will capture and store carbon, as well as deliver other benefits, like pollinator and wildlife habitat and flood and drought mitigation.
New Acre Project, ALUS’ corporate ESG investment platform, helps purpose-driven corporations invest in the communities where they do business to generate social and environmental benefits through the creation of new acres of nature. The one-year 84-acre New Acre Project pilot sponsorship will help Dairy Farmers of Canada strategically allocate capital to support dairy farmers in implementing nature-based solutions that address local environmental challenges, build dairy sector resilience, and offset the carbon footprint of milk production.
“ALUS’ vision is to sustain agriculture, wildlife and natural spaces for communities and future generations,” says Jill Weaver, Director of Partnerships at ALUS. “The Dairy Farmers of Canada’s New Acre Project pilot aligns with our mission by supporting farmers across Canada in building agricultural, environmental and community resilience, while also helping the sector achieve net zero by 2050. We’re excited about the synergy of positive outcomes that this project will produce not just for Dairy Farmers of Canada, but for all Canadians.”
Every five years, Dairy Farmers of Canada measures the carbon footprint of milk production to guide carbon reduction activities. As of 2016, the production of one kilogram of milk generated 0.92 kg CO2e (as reported by Groupe AGECO). By helping farmers introduce carbon offset and reduction solutions to their operations, Dairy Farmers of Canada hopes to reach net-zero emissions in the dairy sector by 2050.