Danish companies have the potential to be part of California's transition towards climate smart agriculture

In 2016, California became the first state in the United States to introduce reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions from dairy farms. The official goal is to reduce emissions by 40 percent in 2030. Action is required now to meet that target, and so the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has initiated several activities and support programs to advance the development of climate smart agriculture.

According to Mette Sivebæk Knudsen, Senior Commercial Advisor at The Trade Council’s Food and Ag Team, the increased focus on lowering the environmental and climate impacts in California, which is leading dairy production in the U.S., boosts business opportunities for Danish companies.

A great example of how Danish technology can come into play is within manure management. Throughout the past decades, the Danish dairy sector has developed a strong focus on nutrient management and biogas production, which means that manure has gone from being a waste product to a valuable resource.

California accounts for about 20 percent of the US total milk production and host 1.8 million dairy cows, as compared to 1.6 million cattle in Denmark. The market opportunity is therefore significant.

“The way the Danish sector approaches manure management and biogas production is currently different than California practices. However, we experience great interest from California stakeholders, and the interest in resource optimization and circular processes are at an all-time high. Therefore, our most important task is to introduce Danish solution providers to California and bridge the gap between the markets. In order to do so, we need to share knowledge and create awareness at conferences like the California Dairy Sustainability Summit," Mette Sivebæk Knudsen, explains.