Behind the scenes at a farm in the U.S. that’s using climate smart farming practices
Nestlé Health Science collaborates with Royal Dairy Farm in Washington state to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions through Dairy Net Zero initiative
Austin Allred and his family purchased Royal Dairy in Washington State in 2016, which started its path to sustainability. Raised and trained as a fruit and vegetable farmer, Austin and his family understand the importance of nutrition and soil health in food production. Nutrient-rich manure improves soil health, which more efficiently grows feed for cows, which is then converted into nourishing milk for people. The farm’s 10,000 cows produce more than one million gallons of milk per month.
“It has always been Royal Dairy’s mission to produce food sustainably so we can take care of our land, our cows, and our families for years to come,” said Allred, Founder, Royal Dairy. “My family and I are thrilled to partner with Nestlé Health Science and its brand Carnation Breakfast Essentials to advance our sustainability practices further and bring climate smart dairy to consumers throughout the country. We look forward to exploring new ways we can bring sustainable dairy products to more families.”
Nestlé Health Science is collaborating with Royal Dairy farm to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions through climate smart farming practices. Together, Royal Dairy and Nestlé Health Science are aligned on four key areas of environmentally focused innovation to show how dairy milk can be a sustainable source of nutrition:
- cow feed
- manure management
- renewable energy
- regenerative agriculture
To help bring this sustainable source of nutrition to families, Royal Dairy joins Nestlé Health Science’s family of dairy suppliers for Carnation Breakfast Essentials® nutritional powder drink mix, which is available at retailers in the United States.
U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative
The Nestlé Health Science and Royal Dairy collaboration is a part of the Dairy Scale for Good pilot, which aims to demonstrate practices and technologies that are sustainable, feasible, and economically viable on a commercial dairy farm.
This pilot is a key pillar of the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative, which advances research, on-farm pilots and new market development, as an essential first phase to make sustainability practices more accessible and affordable to farms of all sizes and accelerate progress toward the industry’s 2050 environmental goals.
“The industry collaboration behind the Net Zero Initiative means we are focused on finding and scaling solutions that work,” said Karen Scanlon, EVP of Environmental Stewardship, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. “Through the extraordinary partnership with Royal Dairy and Carnation Breakfast Essentials, we will learn how food industry partners work together to lower barriers for greater emission reductions. What’s more, we will broadly share lessons on how to support continuous progress while offering a nutritious and sustainable dairy choice for families.”
“Dairy farmers are experts who know their land and what will work on their farms best, but high costs and technological barriers mean many farmers need support transitioning to practices that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Christiane Baker, Director of Sustainability U.S., Nestlé Health Science. “Royal Dairy is pioneering a comprehensive regenerative approach to dairy that helps reduce our carbon footprint while also supporting a more sustainable food system for all. We’re proud to help Royal Dairy implement additional sustainable solutions that can better their business and the planet, and we look forward to exploring ways to expand this initiative in the future.”
Nourishing Potential with Carnation Breakfast Essentials®
When prepared with one cup of skim milk, Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Original Nutritional Powder Drink Mix provides 13 grams of protein—as much as two large eggs — to help support growth while helping to build and maintain muscle. In addition, the product features key nutrients for immune and bone health, including vitamin C, vitamin D, and calcium.
“We believe in helping families start their day off right with a nutrient-packed drink while having the environment’s best interest at heart,” commented Mohini Joshi, Vice President, Nestlé Health Science U.S. “That’s why we’re working directly with dairy farms, like Royal Dairy, in our supply chain to help accelerate farmers’ ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This brings all of us closer to a climate smart future for dairy — a future where the taste you love can create good for generations.”
Progress Toward a More Sustainable Future
Nestlé is working across its businesses and brands to help create a more sustainable future, a stronger and more responsible society, and a thriving economy.
Nestlé Health Science is making progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sourcing ingredients that have significant nutritional value with minimal environmental impact, reducing virgin plastic use, and striving to make all packaging recyclable. In 2022, Carnation Breakfast Essentials® achieved B Corp Certification, showcasing its commitment to meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
