DSM-Firmenich targets China’s dairy sector with Bovaer expansion

CHINA – Preparations are underway for DSM-Firmenich to enter the Chinese dairy market with its methane-reducing feed additive, Bovaer. 

The company has partnered with China Modern Dairy Holdings Ltd., a leading dairy farming operator in China, to enhance the sustainability of Chinese dairy farming through this innovative solution. 

This collaboration marks the first such agreement in China and aligns with the country’s recent efforts to curb methane emissions.

China launched its Methane Emissions Control Action Plan in November 2023, aiming to reduce methane emissions across various sectors, including agriculture, significantly. 

As a major raw milk supplier and a supporter of this action plan, China Modern Dairy Holdings is poised to play a key role in this initiative. 

Implementing Bovaer can reduce methane emissions from dairy cattle by approximately 30%, making it a crucial tool in the country’s sustainability efforts.

Mark van Nieuwland, Senior Vice President of Bovaer at DSM-Firmenich, announced that the company is on track to submit its Chinese registration dossier for the feed supplement later this year and intends to secure approval soon. 

“The collaboration with Modern Dairy will help us to tailor our offering and go-to-market model for China,” said van Nieuwland. 

He emphasised the importance of working with industry leaders to achieve their sustainability goals while awaiting local market authorisation for commercialisation.

Bovaer, known as 3-NOP, is already commercially available in 65 countries, including EU member states, the UK, the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Latin America. 

Registration in the Chinese market would represent a significant step forward in the global effort to reduce agricultural methane emissions and promote sustainability in dairy farming.

In addition to DSM-Firmenich’s efforts, other industry leaders also focus on methane reduction in China. 

For instance, Cargill’s Technology Application Center in Bazhu has collaborated with China Agricultural University on the Carbon Reduction Project since 2022. 

This initiative addresses ruminant methane emissions on dairy farms, supporting China’s carbon reduction goals, including carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.

In related news, leading UK retailer Tesco recently initiated a trial of this methane-reducing feed supplement, aiming to lessen the environmental impact of dairy production. 

Grosvenor Farms, a member of the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) that aims to become a carbon net-zero milk producer by 2030, is testing the feed additive Bovaer on 400 cows over four months.

According to Tesco, incorporating Bovaer into the cows’ diet can reduce each animal’s carbon footprint by approximately 1.3 tons of CO2 equivalent annually. 

If successful, the trial could lead to a 12% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at Grosvenor Farms and potentially wider adoption of Bovaer across the TSDG network.

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