Methane pledge

It claims to be the first major food company to set targets in line with a pledge by 150 countries to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas from cows.

Danone, which makes dairy products such as yoghurt and kefir, will focus on three ways to reduce methane starting with ensuring farmers take better care of cows.

It says a well-managed and healthy herd can result in lower emissions per litre of milk and improve farmers’ livelihoods through better efficiency.

The French dairy group wants to manage manure better too and has projects in Belgium, Spain and the US where waste is converted into renewable biogas to stop it fermenting and emitting more methane.