Shoppers threaten to boycott Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi over Arla Foods’ food additive ‘Bovaer’

Dairy company Arla is being threatened with a boycott over a controversial cow feed additive that it claims can reduce emissions associated with cattle farming.

Bovaer is claimed to reduce the amount of methane that cows produce – a significant source and contributor of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates invested millions in Rumin 8, a company developing similar methane-reducing supplements, through his investment firm Breakthrough Energy Ventures in early 2023. Conspiracy theorists have falsely linked the two companies without evidence.

Danish company Arla – which owns the UK’s largest dairy group – says the product can reduce methane emissions from dairy cows by 30 percent and is backed by Morrisons, Aldi and Tesco supermarkets.

But supermarkets are being threatened with a boycott over concerns about the use of additives in food production.

There is no indication that the additive is unsafe for consumers. The UK Food Standard Agency has approved its use.

And Arla has hit out at “completely false” “misinformation” about the additive on social media – particularly the confusion between Bovaer and the company Rumin 8, which had benefited from Gates’ investment.

The tech entrepreneur has been a regular target of conspiracy theorists on social media for years, including during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dairy company Arla is under fire for testing a food additive that can help reduce methane emissions from cows, the use of which has been approved by Britain’s Food Standards Agency

The Danish company has criticized conspiracy theories and misinformation linking it to Bill Gates after he invested in a similar company

Shoppers and other figures, including right-wing Lee Hurst, have said they will boycott stores linked to testing the additive, which was carefully tested before it was approved

An Arla spokesperson told The Grocer: “The information being circulated about our association with Bill Gates is completely false and claims about his involvement in our products are inaccurate.”

The company said in its tweet announcing the trial: “This represents an amazing opportunity to reduce emissions in agriculture.”

Bovaer was approved for use in cattle in the United Kingdom in late 2023, and several other countries have approved use in cattle. The additive is being tested by 30 of Arla’s 9,000 farmers.

Despite the conspiracy theories surrounding the product, the National Farmers’ Union says buyers are largely positive about products that reduce methane emissions from cows – but questions remain about their long-term use.

Paul Tompkins, chief executive of NFU Dairy, said this week: “While FSA-approved products could be useful tools for reducing methane emissions, questions remain about long-term effectiveness, practical and effective use on farms and other animal health and Animal welfare is not compromised.

“Defra research has shown that buyers generally have a positive attitude towards methane-suppressing products if human and/or animal health is not affected.”

“It is vital that we also have a solid evidence base to give farmers the confidence to use these products.”

“This trial between Arla, Morrisons, Aldi and Tesco could help provide that evidence.”

DSM-Firmenich, the company behind the additive, is preparing to open a Bovaer plant in Scotland to ramp up production.

Arla is behind some of the biggest dairy brands in the UK, including Lurpak butter and Cravendale milk.

Supermarkets Aldi, Tesco and Morrisons said of the plan: “By working together as part of Arla’s FarmAhead customer partnership, we are able to address some of the climate challenges facing our food system.”

“It’s this collective approach that will really make a difference.”

Gates said in 2023 that action would need to be taken to combat methane emissions from cattle.

“You can either fix the cows to stop them from doing that, or you can make beef without the cow,” he told the Sydney-based think tank Low Institute.

“Both aspects are examined to determine which product may result in the best product in terms of taste, health and cost.”

He has previously advocated for alternatives to beef and other animal products to reduce the environmental impact of meat production.

Gates isn’t the only billionaire looking to fund projects that reduce methane emissions from cows.

Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon, donated $9.4 million (£7.8 million) to a project at the Pirbright Institute in Surrey that aims to reduce methane production from cows through vaccination.