The dairy-checkoff funded Innovation Center announced it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the EPA. The center said the MOU will open doors for increased collaboration in areas of mutual interest and allow the agency to gain a deeper understanding and support for U.S. dairy farmers. It will also help the EPA understand the broader dairy community’s environmental sustainability efforts. The MOU formalizes a relationship that began in 2012 and officially announced during the fall meeting of the Dairy Sustainability Alliance.

The MOU allows the EPA to participate as a member of the Alliance, which consists of more than 130 companies and organizations that collaborate on issues affecting the U.S. dairy industry. The Alliance also works to accelerate progress toward shared sustainability goals and contributes to the industry’s long-term viability.

“The MOU is significant as it indicates a recognition of U.S. dairy’s leadership in environmental stewardship and brings greater support for creating a sustainable future that’s economically viable for U.S. dairy farmers and the dairy community,” says Barbara O’Brien, President of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. “The MOU will explore mutually beneficial opportunities for dairy farms across the country to benefit from access to EPA resources.”

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