Honourable senators, over the past few weeks, we’ve heard a lot about farmers and climate change and mitigation, maybe far too much, but I rise today to highlight two outstanding organizations in the Canadian dairy industry, Lactanet Canada and Semex, and their outstanding recent mitigation efforts and success.

In October, at the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in Chicago, Illinois, these organizations were honoured with the prestigious Innovation in Climate Action award, recognizing their groundbreaking work in advancing sustainability and environmental stewardship within the dairy sector.

Partnerships are the backbone of progress, and Lactanet Canada and Semex exemplify the power of collaboration. Their long-standing synergy has not only supported dairy farmers in Canada but also contributed to the entire dairy industry’s sustainability goals. Nominated by Dairy Farmers of Canada, these organizations were commended for their role in developing the world’s first of its kind methane efficiency genetic evaluation tool. This is a revolutionary step toward reducing methane emissions without compromising production levels in dairy cattle.

This groundbreaking initiative was launched in April of 2023 after a decade of research and development led by my alma mater, the University of Guelph. It enables dairy producers to select animals that contribute to lower methane emissions by using innovative technologies to evaluate and predict methane production.

As the dairy sector and, in fact, all of agriculture strives toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, Lactanet Canada’s and Semex’s methane efficiency genetic evaluation stands as a testament to the crucial role research and innovation play in this shared journey. It represents a commitment to sustainability and innovative dairy management practices that are essential for the industry’s growth.

I applaud Lactanet Canada and Semex for their well-deserved recognition and acknowledge their commitment to a sustainable future, their dedication to innovation and their invaluable contribution to the global dairy industry.

By bringing the world’s first methane efficiency index to the dairy industry, these organizations are empowering producers worldwide to take immediate, simple, low-cost and permanent action in reducing their own breeding programs’ methane emissions.

Congratulations to both organizations, and may their achievements inspire further advancements in agriculture and environmental conservation.

Thank you, meegwetch.