Shared Table with Jeff Simmons | Trust, Cows, Milk, Climate: Dr. Frank Mitloehner
Excited to launch Shared Table LinkedIn Newsletter. First, what is Shared Table?
I’m a big believer in tables – they symbolize the vision we have at Elanco – Food & Companionship Enriching Life. From our pets under the table to the protein and dairy on the table – from meals to meetings, community and connection to crucial questions with colleagues, friends and family. There’s something incredibly powerful when we sit down, slow down – share a meal and get to know one another more. This monthly newsletter is going to more deeply explore Shared Table - conversations rooted in connection, leadership, purpose, animals and making life better.
Our first Shared Table conversation is more relevant than ever. The topic is in headlines every week and will really heat up this fall with United Nations Climate Week and COP 29 around the corner. I sat down with Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D., Director, UC Davis CLEAR Center, Department of Animal Science – aka the Greenhouse Gas or GHG Guru. In fact, we were sitting at a table supported on two rather large hay bales in the UC Davis dairy research barn to talk about the next $1-2 billion animal health market – livestock sustainability.
If you read nothing else – remember this quote… “Reducing Methane, Reduces Warming”
Mitloehner talked about what led him to the Clarity and Leadership for Environmental Awareness and Research – or CLEAR Center – at UC Davis. It aims to provide clear, science-based information about food production and its impact on the environment. He also highlighted the need for farmers to be more open about their work, as consumers are increasingly interested in how their food is produced.
Big takeaway… Climate neutral animal agriculture farms will happen this decade. The cow can be part of the how to reduce climate warming.
With this important framework in mind, the conversation shifted to livestock sustainability and the role of new technologies in this space like Bovaer, a first-in-class methane reducing feed ingredient for use in lactating dairy cattle, that recently completed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration review. The dairy world has an opportunity to continue their tradition of conservation and impact methane in a meaningful way. What excites me the most from this conversation is the clarity Mitloehner has around the path to climate neutral animal agriculture this decade. One of the greatest needs: new tools. We’re excited by the way Bovaer will be able to create value for farmers, for consumers and for the environment. With 500,000 cows already enrolled to track their footprint and the first CPG contracts in final stages, the dairy industry is about to take another big step toward their goal.
I will always remember this moment in our conversation… Carrot or the Stick? We can’t force change for it to be successful. Sustainability must be something that provides the right economic sustainability along with environmental sustainability.
Watch the full conversation here on YouTube.
