



The United Nations (along with a laundry list of other research organizations) have reported that the methane produced by livestock contributes more greenhouse gases than the entire transportation sector. The question is: what do we do about this uncomfortable truth?





In typical form, California is taking the lead by proposing the toughest greenhouse gas emissions regulations in the nation—including a 75 percent reduction of bovine methane emissions from dairy farms by 2030.





To achieve this massive reduction goal, the California Air Resources Board has proposed options that have left both dairy producers and the public a little perplexed.





One suggestion from the Board is for dairy farms to purchase technology like anaerobic digesters to capture methane and then filter and sell it to consumers as a form of biogas. Dairy officials have balked at both the expense and lack of infrastructure available for implementing this strategy, while others have argued about the environmental tradeoffs of processing and transporting the gas.





Another suggestion is to breed cows that belch less. While this is theoretically possible, it’s not a solution that can be immediately implemented to achieve results.





We seem to have reached a critical point where lawmakers can no longer fully ignore the disastrous impact of conventional animal agriculture, but are unable to get honest about the way forward.





As a result, both the most commonsensical and the most creative solutions are being overlooked: plant-based alternatives (which are already wildly popular) and clean dairy, which is cultured without the need for any of the 9 million dairy cows our country currently houses.





(Learn more about animal-free dairy here





Markets have already taken note: the dairy industry has been facing hard times as demand plummets, prices drop, and competition from alternatives like almond and soy milks grow ever more formidable.





In response, the USDA agreed to buy $20 million of cheese just this week, and dairy lobbyists are seeking a larger bailout to the tune of $150 million.





Instead of waiting for government aid, some forward-thinking dairy farmers have already switched to nut farming as a longterm solution.





Requesting that dairy farmers up and switch professions is not an easy ask. Sure, businesses have always adapted to meet changing needs, and it’s good news that farmers who make the switch to more sustainable foods can turn a significant profit from producing dairy alternatives, but that doesn’t mean the transition will be easy.





Yes. Change is difficult, but with quite literally the fate of the entire global ecosystem at stake, it is absolutely the time to harness the markets and technology available to us through plant-based and clean dairy to create a food system that can sustainably support our growing population for years to come.





We don’t need any more stopgaps. The solutions are already here.





To learn more about how The Good Food Institute promotes sustainable, climate-friendly foods, visit our website

Cow farts: the latest politically charged hot topic.