The biggest food sustainability pledges at COP28, from Bezos to JBS

Food companies commit millions of dollars to tackle methane and advance regenerative agriculture, while governments prioritize farming in climate action plans. Here are the highlights from the U.N. climate summit in Dubai.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 7, 2023

US cheese consumption in 2022 was whey up

Consumers are eating more dairy than ever, even as milk demand reaches an all-time low. 

By Nathan Owens • Dec. 6, 2023

Darigold CEO steps down

Board Chairman Allan Huttema will take over as interim chief executive as the dairy co-op is in the midst of a company-wide transformation to become a global ingredients provider.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 5, 2023

Generate Upcycle threatens to close anaerobic digester over Michigan permitting changes

The company may shutter its 150,000-ton-per-year Fremont Regional Digester this month if it’s required to obtain a groundwater permit for its liquid digestate, which has been marketed as a fertilizer.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 4, 2023

US loses trade dispute over access to Canada’s dairy market

Farm groups called the ruling a "surprising setback" that weakens the value of the USMCA.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Nov. 27, 2023

Danone’s Horizon Organic suspends use of milk from Texas farm at center of PETA report

The animal rights group released images showing animal suffering and deaths at the operation near Dallas. It urged the USDA to open an investigation.

By Christopher Doering • Nov. 22, 2023

Devising a just transition for sustainable livestock agriculture

As national leaders and industry stakeholders prepare to convene on climate change at COP28, frameworks to ensure neither farmers nor ranchers are left behind should be top of mind.

By Danielle Nierenberg, Dr. Lee Recht, Dr. Harpinder Sandhu and Didier Toubia • Nov. 20, 2023

Schumer calls for USDA investigation into nationwide milk carton shortage

The New York senator is calling for help “to find packaging alternatives” and resolve the issue. Dairies point to Pactiv Evergreen as the source of the supply chain snarl, although no origin point has been positively confirmed.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 16, 2023

Midwest dairy co-op partners with biotech firm to upcycle co-products

A new technology is being developed by Foremost Farms and Gingko Bioworks to convert raw materials such as whey and lactose, which are often lost in wastewater, into value-added products.

By Nathan Owens • Nov. 9, 2023

Milk suppliers sour over carton shortage

Dairy manufacturers and others cite Pactiv Evergreen as the supply problem’s source. Tetra Pak and other competitors are trying to step up production to meet increased demand as beverage producers seek help.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 6, 2023

Environmental groups blast USDA for extending climate funding to dairy digesters

An industry push to turn manure into biofuel fails to address climate change and encourages the proliferation of "factory farms," according to a letter signed by nearly 200 organizations.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Nov. 2, 2023

Butter prices soar to record highs

Supply is constrained going into the holiday baking season due to lower production and increased summer demand for ice cream and other products.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 19, 2023

Walmart pouring $350M into new milk processing plant

The facility builds on the retailer’s efforts to control more of its fresh foods supply chain. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • Oct. 12, 2023

Deere teams with 2 companies on digital precision agriculture tools for sustainability

The partnerships aim to help farmers track livestock and fertilizer data so they can make smarter business decisions that are better for the environment.

By Nathan Owens • Oct. 5, 2023

Biden admin expands funding for farms to tackle livestock waste

Producers that compost or improve feed management are now eligible to apply to USDA's increasingly popular climate-smart agriculture programs. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 5, 2023

Coca-Cola’s Fairlife still sourcing milk from abusive farms, animal rights group claims

The beverage giant disputed the claim from Animal Recovery Mission, saying the two operations and its owner are not suppliers for the dairy product, which has more than $1 billion in annual sales.

By Christopher Doering • Sept. 26, 2023

Extreme heat is causing cows to produce less milk

Lower supply is pushing butter and cheese prices higher, which could help dairy producers who have suffered from deteriorating margins.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 19, 2023

How the looming government shutdown is complicating the farm bill

Averting a budget crisis remains a top priority in Congress, likely pushing back the timeline for the most consequential law in the agriculture industry. Here’s what it means for farmers.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 12, 2023

Dairy industry teams with cybersecurity group to beef up defenses

As cyber crimes become more prevalent, the International Dairy Foods Association joins other food companies in efforts to share information and bolster protections.

By Nathan Owens • Sept. 12, 2023

Danone joins corporate alliance to turn food waste into renewable energy

The dairy giant and other industry leaders are partnering with Vanguard Renewables to mitigate climate impacts by using anaerobic digesters on dairy farms.

By Nathan Owens • Sept. 8, 2023

Organic Valley doubles size of dairy sustainability initiative

The co-op is encouraging farmers to change their grazing practices with the support of a USDA grant and funding from commercial partners.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 7, 2023

EPA and Hershey invest $2M for dairy sustainability at Land O’Lakes farms

The commitment expands on the group’s goals to support a more eco-friendly supply chain for Hershey's milk chocolate.

By Nathan Owens • Aug. 25, 2023

Chevron and Brightmark’s Florida dairy digester project marks first renewable gas delivery

The shipment comes as the energy companies expand a venture to fund anaerobic digesters at farms throughout the country. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Aug. 24, 2023

Farm production costs skyrocketed 15.2% in 2022

Expenses are only expected to surge higher this year, creating a difficult calculus for farmers as they also grapple with declining prices.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Aug. 2, 2023

Aemetis secures $25M to turn methane from cows into renewable energy

The USDA-backed loan will allow the biofuels company to fund biogas digester projects for eight new dairies.

By Nathan Owens • Aug. 1, 2023