Nestle Scientists Visit Vet Varsity to Explore Sustainable Collaboration

A delegation of Nestlé scientists, including Pascal Chapot, Nestle Global Head of Agriculture, Henry Florence, Head of Sustainable Nutrition and Manuel Scharer, Agronomist from the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Switzerland, Naveen Puttalingaiah from Nestlé R&D Singapore, Sumeet Dhiman and his team from Nestlé Moga, visited Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University to explore potential collaborations to achieve goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.​

During the deliberations, Dr. JPS Gill, Vice Chancellor underscored the university's unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship and the transformative potential of a partnership with Nestlé. He expressed optimism about creating a replicable model for sustainable development that reflects both institutions' values. It is worth mentioning that the livestock sector contributes 18% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, with methane accounting for 37% of this total. Methane has 28 times the warming potential of CO2 over a century, making its mitigation crucial for achieving rapid cooling effects in the atmosphere. This underlines the urgent need for collaborative efforts in sustainable dairy practices. By combining our expertise and resources, we can set a new standard for environmentally responsible dairy farming and contribute to global climate change efforts, said the Vice Chancellor.

Dr S K Uppal, Director of Research while welcoming the team, emphasized the university's commitment to sustainable practices in agriculture and livestock management. An overview of the university's strengths and capabilities, showcasing its advanced research facilities and expertise was presented by Dr. HS Banga, Registrar. Dr. RS Grewal coordinated a visit to the livestock farm, where he presented state-of-the-art facilities and ongoing projects. The delegation was impressed by Dr. JS Hundal’s insights on pioneering research aimed at reducing methane production in dairy animals, crucial for enhancing sustainability.

Pascal expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating that their visit has been incredibly enlightening and that the university's dedication to innovation in sustainable agriculture aligns perfectly with our goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Dhiman added that it was inspiring to see the cutting-edge research here, and hoped that by working together, they could develop effective strategies to reduce methane emissions in dairy livestock, benefiting both the environment and the economic viability of dairy operations.