Search Articles

Showing 1-10 of 170

Dairy Farmers of Canada Launches Program to Reward Consumers for Purchasing Canadian Dairy

The Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), an agriculture industry support group, has launched a program that rewards consumers for purchasing Canadian dairy products. Consumers who sign up for the program can receive access to special offers, contests, recipes and other materials. While DFC touts the program as a way to support local farmers and promote transparency, there are concerns about the program's influence on consumer choices and its potential to overshadow alternative, more ethical and sustainable options.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Approves Expansion of Dairy CAFO Despite Manure Violation History

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved an expansion of Emerald Sky Dairy in St. Croix County from 1,600 milking cows to 3,300 milking cows. DNR approved the expansion despite a history of significant “negative public comment related to Emerald Sky Dairy” and repeated manure violations, as described in a 2020 letter from the St. Croix County Community Development Committee urging DNR to enforce its laws and rules for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) and manure application.

New Zealand’s Supreme Court Allows Climate Suit Against Corporate GHG Emitters to Proceed

The Supreme Court of New Zealand unanimously reversed lower court rulings to permit a climate suit brought by a Māori elder, Mike Smith, against seven of the largest greenhouse gas (GHG)-emitting corporations in the country to proceed. The defendant corporations include Fonterra, a dairy cooperative that is a major exporter and the nation’s biggest company. The case will now go to trial before New Zealand’s High Court, its superior court.

Article Explores Implications of Rise of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

An article in Industry Leaders Magazine explores plant-based market growth and concludes that the “rise of veganism” is putting “pressure on [the] meat industry” given “the paradigm shift towards plant-based products” and consumer preference for more plant-based options for environmental, animal welfare, ethical, and spiritual reasons. The article cites data relating to growth in the plant-based alternatives market, which experienced 27% growth in 2020 compared to 15% in “the overall retail food market” and a growth rate twice that of “animal-based meat,” suggesting a “substantial shift in consumer preferences.”

Report Suggests State and Dairy Industry Are Significantly Overstating ROI of California’s Dairy Digester Program

A new report on California’s methane digester funding program suggests the public’s return on investment (ROI) in dairy digesters has been significantly overstated. It found that the true public cost of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions abated is nearly $160 per ton, over 17 times higher than the $9 per ton cost previously reported in the 2023 California Climate Investments Annual Report. The new report, funded by the Center for Food Safety, also raises questions about the methane digester program’s transparency.

Israeli Lab-Grown Milk Protein Approved for Sale in Canada

Remilk, an Israeli food tech firm, has obtained Health Canada's approval to distribute its lab-grown milk protein to Canadian dairy manufacturers and food companies. The "letter of no objection" permits the use of BLG protein, produced via precision fermentation, in dairy substitutes like milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. The protein, equivalent to cow-derived BLG but created without animals, is deemed environmentally sustainable and lacks lactose, cholesterol, and growth hormones. Health Canada confirms safety, asserting the product is nutritionally comparable to whey protein. Remilk aims to partner with Canadian food firms to offer innovative, guilt-free dairy alternatives, excluding direct consumer sales or infant formula use.

UK High Court Sides with Oatly in Trademark Challenge Over Use of Word “Milk” on Label

Oatly AB prevailed in a ruling in the U.K.’s High Court of Justice, enabling the company to use the word “milk” on its packaging as part of its slogan “Post Milk Generation.” Dairy UK Ltd, the UK dairy trade association, challenged Oatly’s application to use the slogan on products like oat-based milk substitutes, ice creams, spreads, and drinks, arguing the phrase violates regulations protecting “milk” as a designation exclusively allowed for dairy products. The High Court rejected Dairy UK’s claim, finding that Oatly’s use of the word “milk” in the proposed slogan does not imply dairy-based products within the meaning of the prohibitive regulation.

Canada and Ontario Invest Eight Million Dollars in Dairy Industry

The governments of Canada and Ontario are committing up to eight million dollars through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to enhance “processing efficiencies” and food safety in Ontario's dairy sector. The Dairy Processing Modernization Initiative invites eligible dairy businesses to apply for funding to acquire modern technologies that boost production efficiency and ensure food safety. The investment is part of the Grow Ontario Strategy, aiming to fortify the agriculture and food supply chain. Open to various milk processors, each eligible applicant can receive up to $200,000 in cost-share support.