Milk Down the Drain: Some Social Media Users Protests Over Arla’s Methane-Reducing Additive Bovaer

Videos have emerged on social media showing some UK users pouring milk down sinks and toilets in protest against Arla Foods’ use of Bovaer, a methane-reducing additive in cow feed. While the scale of these protests is unclear, they have sparked conversations about the dairy industry’s environmental impact and the use of new technologies like Bovaer. While the addition the ingredients  is framed as a step toward addressing the climate crisis, it raises larger questions about the dairy industry’s environmental impact and whether the focus on mitigating methane emissions is merely a band-aid solution for a much bigger problem.

What Is Bovaer, and Why Are People Concerned?

Bovaer, developed by DSM-Firmenich, is a feed additive that reduces methane emissions from cows by about 27% in feedlot settings only, as it's unclear of its effectiveness over the lifespan (including when the on pasture). Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 25 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Livestock farming is responsible for anywhere from 15-20% of all direct human-induced planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, with methane from cow digestion being a major contributor. This doesn't include the enormous opportunities to sequestered carbon on freed up land used by animal agriculture.

Despite its environmental promise, the additive has sparked backlash. Protesters argue that instead of investing in technologies like Bovaer, the dairy industry should focus on reducing the number of cows and scaling back dairy production altogether. This sentiment is fueled by broader concerns about the dairy industry’s environmental toll, including its impact on land, water, and biodiversity.

Is Bovaer Safe?

This is very early stages for this research and bold claims of environmental improvement are already being exaggerated, but Bovaer essentially works by suppressing a methane-producing enzyme in cows’ digestive systems. With similar feed additives though, cows gut microbes adapted after a short period of time leading back to baseline high methane emissions.

Regulatory bodies like the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have reviewed and approved the additive, confirming its safety for both livestock and humans consuming dairy products from treated cows. Studies show that Bovaer breaks down entirely in the cow’s digestive system, leaving no residues in milk or meat.

However, consumer mistrust remains high, driven by fears of long-term health impacts and a lack of transparent communication from the industry. Social media misinformation has further compounded skepticism, with some labeling the additive “toxic” despite evidence to the contrary.

The Bigger Picture: The Environmental Toll of Dairy

While methane-reducing technologies like Bovaer claims to tackle one aspect of the dairy industry’s environmental footprint, they fail to address its broader ecological impact. Producing a single liter of cow’s milk requires approximately 1,000 liters of water, a staggering statistic that underscores the resource intensity of dairy farming.

Additionally, dairy farming contributes to:

• Waterway Pollution: Manure runoff and fertilizers from dairy farms often contaminate rivers and lakes, leading to algal blooms and biodiversity loss.

• Deforestation and Land Use: Vast tracts of land are cleare

d for growing feed crops, resulting in habitat destruction and increased carbon emissions.

• High Carbon Footprint: Beyond methane, dairy farming releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, further exacerbating climate change.

These issues highlight the need for systemic changes, such as reducing global dairy herd sizes and transitioning to more sustainable alternatives.

Why Focus on Cutting Herd Sizes?

While innovations like Bovaer aim to make dairy farming less harmful, they don’t address the core issue: the sheer scale of the industry. According to environmental experts, reducing the number of cows is one of the most effective ways to cut emissions and lessen the industry’s strain on natural resources.

Alternatives like plant-based milks, which require fewer resources and emit significantly less carbon, are becoming increasingly popular. For example, producing oat milk requires 80% less water and emits 70% less carbon dioxide than cow’s milk. By promoting these alternatives, the global food system can take meaningful steps toward sustainability.

Are Dairy Alternatives the Future?

The rise of plant-based milks offers a glimpse into a more sustainable future. Oat, almond, soy, and pea milks are gaining traction as viable replacements for traditional dairy, offering environmental benefits without compromising on taste or nutrition. Beyond personal dietary choices, systemic support for plant-based alternatives—through subsidies and public education—could accelerate the transition away from resource-intensive dairy farming.

The Path Forward

The milk-pouring protests signal growing public frustration with the dairy industry’s environmental impact and its reliance on high-tech fixes like Bovaer. While reducing methane emissions is important, a larger conversation is needed about the future of food production and the role of animal agriculture in a climate-conscious world.

Educating consumers about the true cost of dairy—on the planet, waterways, and biodiversity—empowers them to make informed choices. Whether it’s cutting back on dairy consumption, supporting plant-based alternatives, or advocating for systemic reforms, individuals have the power to drive change in the food system.

Updated  5th December 2024
The headline was updated to specify the fact that the trending of milk pouring is not necessarily wide spread and is likely isolated to a small subset of social media creators. Without further evidence there is no clear evidence that this is a nation wide protest.