A new study reveals that Canadian dairy farmers disposed of an estimated 6.8 billion liters of surplus milk between 2012 and 2021, surpassing disposal rates in other major dairy-producing nations. The research, conducted by Dalhousie University in partnership with international scholars, estimates the wasted milk’s value at $14.9 billion.
The study, led by ‘The Food Professor’ himself, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois director of the agrifoods analytics lab at Dalhousie University, in collaboration with researchers from Michigan and Denmark, found that Canadian farms dumped approximately 7% of their milk production. This rate significantly surpasses disposal levels in other countries, including the United States (0.5%), Sweden (0.3%), and France (3.5%).
The discarded milk, valued at $14.9 billion, could have fed 4.2 million people annually. Researchers calculated these figures by comparing the estimated total milk production of Canada’s dairy herd against recorded sales volumes from Statistics Canada, while accounting for factors such as breed differences and on-farm calf feeding.
The research was prompted by a viral video from Ontario dairy farmer Jerry Huigen, who in February 2023 filmed himself disposing of excess milk to protest the practice. “Dairy farmers are told ‘just throw it down the drain. Nobody sees it, it’s OK,'” Huigen said in his social media post. “Well, it’s not OK.”
Beyond the economic impact, the researchers noted environmental consequences, including 8.4 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions from producing the wasted milk. The study recommends mandatory reporting of surplus milk production and implementing penalties for overproduction.
Dairy Farmers of Canada CEO Jacques Lefebvre questioned the study’s methodology, noting its reliance on estimates rather than comprehensive data. “Milk is disposed only as a last resort after exploring all other alternatives,” Lefebvre said in a statement, adding that disposal costs are borne by farmers.
Canada remains the world’s only country maintaining a supply-managed dairy sector. Charlebois, while supporting the system, advocates for improvement. “I’ve never been against the system, but let’s make it better,” he said. “Being in denial won’t make it better.”
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