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Sustainability Beyond Dairy Farms: Progressing Forward
Dairy farms have become an important part of sustainability. When the word sustainability comes to mind, what do you think of? Reducing your carbon footprint? Composting? Environmentally friendly farming practices? If you thought of any of these, you are correct! However, sustainability goes beyond environmental impacts—it also relates to nutrition, affordability, and accessibility.
That’s because it’s essential that our food supply also sustains human health at a cost people can afford. The good news is that dairy is a sustainable food source that is nutritious, affordable, and accessible. For example, dairy milk is the leading food source of three nutrients of public health concern (calcium, vitamin D, and potassium) for children 2-18 years and the leading food source of calcium and vitamin D for all Americans over the age of 2. And one cup of milk costs around 25 cents while providing 8 grams of high-quality protein. People of all life stages can benefit from the many nutrients found in dairy foods, like pregnant moms who need higher amounts of iodine in their diet (1 cup of milk provides 40% of the daily value during pregnancy) or young athletes who are looking to optimize recovery with high-quality protein and bone-building nutrients.
Foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, and kefir are versatile and easy to pair with plant-based diets. Incorporating this duo into your meals is a great way to increase nutrients that are often underconsumed, since plant foods provide fiber and dairy foods can provide calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. Some easy ways to pair dairy and plants are through smoothies, a simple snack of cheese, fruit, and whole grain crackers, or veggies with a yogurt dip. If dairy is not a part of your diet due to lactose intolerance, consider trying lactose-free products—they are just as delicious and nutritious as lactose-containing ones!
Sustainability on Dairy Farms
Dairy farmers have a great story regarding sustainable farming, but many Americans haven’t heard it. According to the most recent research, the greenhouse gas footprint of the U.S. dairy industry is <2% of the national total. Even so, a group of scientists studied what the U.S. food system would look like if we eliminated dairy cows altogether. It showed that if dairy cows were removed from the U.S. food system, there would be only a slight reduction of greenhouse gases but a significant decrease in the availability of essential nutrients needed in the U.S. food supply.
Many dairy farmers are committed to optimizing sustainability practices when caring for their animals, land, and water. One way this is achieved is by feeding cows byproducts, such as citrus pulp, cotton seeds, almond hulls, and distiller's gains. Not only does this reduce food waste going to landfills, but it also provides the cows with the energy they need to produce milk. Additionally, food waste can be used in other ways on dairy farms. New methane digesters, a new technology, enable dairy farmers to produce renewable energy from food waste in their communities and manure on their farms. This prevents the methane gases from manure from being released into the atmosphere and helps fuel local communities.
Celebrate Earth Month by sharing the good news you’ve heard about dairy and enjoying your favorite dairy foods, knowing they support the planet and your health!
Mary Anne Szuch is a dietetic intern at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System with a master’s degree in nutrition from Meredith College. As she nears the end of her internship, she hopes to enter the field of pediatric nutrition once she passes her RD exam. Outside of work, Mary Anne enjoys spending time outside, doing yoga, and reading.
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