Cornell, EDF aim to reduce methane output for India’s dairies

“We need to reduce enteric methane emissions from livestock – particularly ruminants – because they produce the bulk of methane, a climate pollutant.” India is home to 300 million cattle and milk-producing buffaloes, and 85 million smallholder dairy farmers. In 2020, India produced 195 million metric tons of milk, which is 22% of all global production, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. India’s population is 1.4 billion; the UN forecasts that it will increase by 194 million by 2030. The number of milk-consuming households is projected to rise from 185 million in 2012 to 349 million by 2050. The country ranks 97 of 118 countries on the Global Hunger Index. In addition to human nutrition, the scientists must tackle the methane problem, he said. Milk production is inefficient in India, which means its dairy industry produces more methane than they should – as it contributes about 7% of global greenhouse emissions from agriculture. As a greenhouse gas, ...