USDA urged to withdraw from Pathways to Dairy Net Zero initiative

Advocacy groups are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withdraw from Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (P2DNZ), a climate initiative established during the Biden administration. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, leaders from Consumers Defense and Heartland Impact requested full disclosure of the USDA’s involvement with the program, including funding, staff participation, and technical assistance.

A report titled ‘The War on Dairy: Foreign Influence Subverting America’s Dairy Sector’ accompanies the request, arguing that the initiative functions as a form of ‘private regulation.’ Critics contend that while P2DNZ is marketed as a voluntary, science-based effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it effectively imposes ESG policies that increase costs for small and mid-sized family farms.

The groups warn that these compliance costs could lead to industry consolidation and higher prices for food staples, making milk and other products less affordable for consumers. They argue that American food policy should be determined by elected representatives and farmers rather than through the influence of private or foreign organizations.