Ahold Delhaize USA, Danone North America and The Nature Conservancy have launched a collaborative pilot program aimed at improving sustainability in dairy farming.
The initiative will work with select dairy farms in Danone North America’s yogurt product supply chain to reduce methane emissions, strengthen on-farm resilience and enhance supply chain sustainability. Over the next five years, the program will focus on implementing practices such as manure management, composting and irrigation efficiency, with the goal of lowering Scope 3 emissions tied to dairy products sold under Ahold Delhaize USA banners including Food Lion, Giant Food, The Giant Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop.
The Nature Conservancy will bring experience ranging from agricultural and ecological systems to impact investing strategies. The organization also will play a key role in project governance by providing technical assistance to farmers and helping to ensure long-term viability of on-farm practices.
Additionally, the collaboration will bring in the expertise of NatureVest, The Nature Conservancy’s in-house impact investing and sustainable finance team, to identify market mechanisms that agrifood companies can leverage to help implement these sustainable supply chain solutions. The results associated with this project will be validated by an independent third party.
“As we continue our work to support healthier people and a healthier planet, we’re excited to embark on our first dairy-focused pilot and for the learnings to follow,” said Kendrick Repko, VP, health and sustainability at Ahold Delhaize USA. “By focusing on the yogurt production supply chain, we complement our other partnerships in the regenerative agriculture space by continuing to explore practical, scalable methods to decrease emissions across the value chain, this time assessing methane reduction in dairy farming.”
Jessie Copeland, head of regenerative agriculture at Danone North America, said the company’s mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible.
“We strive to work hand-in-hand with our farm partners to implement resilient and regenerative practices that benefit farms, climate, local communities and our business. But we can’t do it alone,” Copeland said. “As a purpose-driven food and beverage company, we understand the importance of collaborating with farmers and organizations like Ahold Delhaize USA and The Nature Conservancy who share our vision to drive change at scale.”
This initiative is Ahold Delhaize USA’s fourth farmland-focused sustainable agriculture project. It is also a key component of the Danone Impact Journey, which helps regenerate nature through investing in and scaling Danone’s best-in-class regenerative agriculture program.
About Ahold Delhaize USA
Ahold Delhaize USA is a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize. When considered together, the companies of Ahold Delhaize USA comprise the largest grocery retail group on the East Coast and the fourth largest grocery retail group in the nation, with its brands serving 26 million omnichannel customers each week.
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