{"id":25533,"date":"2025-12-18T15:44:53","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T20:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=25533"},"modified":"2025-12-19T13:30:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T18:30:41","slug":"indias-dairy-industry-a-market-opportunity-for-climate-adaptation-to-protect-people-and-livelihoods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2025\/12\/18\/indias-dairy-industry-a-market-opportunity-for-climate-adaptation-to-protect-people-and-livelihoods\/","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s dairy industry: A market opportunity for climate adaptation to protect people and livelihoods"},"content":{"rendered":"

This blog is co-authored by Abhinav Guarav<\/a>, Lead Advisor-Sustainable Dairy, Environmental Defense Fund, and Meredith Ryder-Rude<\/a>, Associate Vice President for Global Engagement and Partnerships.<\/em><\/p>\n

India is home to 80 million smallholder dairy farmers and\u00a0nearly 300\u00a0million bovines, making it the world\u2019s largest milk producer. The\u00a0<\/span>Indian dairy industry<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0responsible for\u00a0a quarter of global milk supply and soon approaching one-third.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dairy is\u00a0not only culturally significant in India, but also\u00a0the backbone of\u00a0its\u00a0agricultural economy, contributing significantly to GDP and rural livelihoods. But this\u00a0sector is on the frontlines of climate change.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

India\u2019s dairy industry faces climate risk<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Summers that once lasted three months now stretch to five, bringing extreme heat and humidity that threaten milk production.\u00a0<\/span>Studies<\/span><\/a>\u00a0warn that without corrective\u00a0action,\u00a0India could lose\u00a0<\/span>20\u201330\u00a0percent\u00a0of\u00a0its\u00a0milk production<\/span><\/b>\u00a0by mid-century.\u00a0<\/span>The Lancet<\/span><\/a>\u00a0projects a\u00a0<\/span>25% decline by 2085<\/span><\/b>\u00a0under business-as-usual scenarios.\u00a0Smallholder farmers\u2014most\u00a0owning\u00a0just 3 to 5 animals\u2014are especially vulnerable. They lack access to improved technologies, knowledge, and financing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Indian government has launched programs like NICRA (National Innovation for Climate Resilient Agriculture) and invested in research on heat stress and resilience. But scaling solutions to 80 million farmers\u00a0remains\u00a0a challenge. Knowledge exists, yet translating it into affordable, accessible technologies and services is the missing link.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Dairy
Dairy livestock produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas; they also suffer from heat stress, which is expected to reduce India’s milk production 25% as the climate warms.\u00a0(Roanna Rahman for EDF)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n

Adaptation as an economic strategy for Indian dairy<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Adaptation cannot rely solely on public funding.\u00a0To get adaptation technologies\u2014like shade barns, misting fans, and climate-smart feed\u2014into the hands of vulnerable farmers, private sector investment and market mechanisms are essential.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where India has a unique opportunity. With strong dairy cooperatives, global dairy giants like Nestl\u00e9 and Danone, and national development banks, India can lead in creating a market for adaptation solutions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0adaptation\u00a0playbook for Indian\u00a0dairy<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Create\u00a0incentives<\/span><\/b><\/h5>\n

Just as renewable energy tax credits and EV mandates spurred clean energy\u00a0markets,\u00a0adaptation needs similar tools.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n