Michigan Dairy Farmers Partner with Canadian Distillery to Convert Milk Byproduct into Ethanol for Cars

Michigan dairy farmers have teamed up with Dairy Distiller, a Canadian company that produces a milk-based vodka called Vodkow, to convert milk permeate, a byproduct of the ultrafiltering process, into ethanol for cars. Milk permeate is rich in lactose, a type of sugar that can be fed to yeast to make ethanol. Dairy Distiller has historically used the ethanol to produce vodka, but the company will soon feed it to American vehicles as well. A $41 million plant is planned to open in early 2025 next to an existing Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) location in Constantine, Michigan. The plant will be capable of processing 14,000 tonnes of milk permeate into 2.2 million gallons of ethanol annually. The new Constantine location is being supported by $2.5 million in funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund and will offset 14,500 tonnes of carbon per year when blended with transportation fuel. The MMPA estimates that this will help reduce the carbon footprint of the Constantine milk processing plant by five percent.

The dairy industry is very carbon intensive, accounting for roughly two percent of total US greenhouse gas emissions, or 20 percent of the agriculture sector’s emissions, according to the American Dairy Association. Dairy farming in Michigan and Ohio have also been linked to the toxic algae blooms currently plaguing Lake Erie, reports the Environmental Working Group. Recent studies have suggested that even when ethanol is made from corn, it can be more damaging to the environment than fossil fuels, suggesting that the possible environmental benefits of the product are closely linked to how it is sourced.

Michigan Milk Producers Association Partners with Dairy Distiller to Convert Milk Byproduct into Ethanol for Cars

Michigan dairy farmers have partnered with Dairy Distiller, a Canadian company that produces Vodkow, a milk-based vodka, to convert milk permeate into ethanol for cars. Milk permeate is a byproduct of the ultrafiltering process and is rich in lactose, a type of sugar that can be fed to yeast to make ethanol. Dairy Distiller has historically used the ethanol to produce vodka, but the company will soon feed it to American vehicles as well. A $41 million plant is planned to open in early 2025 next to an existing Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) location in Constantine, Michigan. The plant will be capable of processing 14,000 tonnes of milk permeate into 2.2 million gallons of ethanol annually. The new Constantine location is being supported by $2.5 million in funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund and will offset 14,500 tonnes of carbon per year when blended with transportation fuel. The MMPA estimates that this will help reduce the carbon footprint of the Constantine milk processing plant by five percent.

The dairy industry is very carbon intensive, accounting for roughly two percent of total US greenhouse gas emissions, or 20 percent of the agriculture sector’s emissions, according to the American Dairy Association. Dairy farming in Michigan and Ohio have also been linked to the toxic algae blooms currently plaguing Lake Erie, reports the Environmental Working Group. Recent studies have suggested that even when ethanol is made from corn, it can be more damaging to the environment than fossil fuels, suggesting that the possible environmental benefits of the product are closely linked to how it is sourced.

Michigan Dairy Farmers Partner with Canadian Distillery to Convert Milk Byproduct into Ethanol for Cars: A Positive Step for Sustainability?

Michigan dairy farmers have partnered with Dairy Distiller, a Canadian company that produces Vodkow, a milk-based vodka, to convert milk permeate into ethanol for cars. Milk permeate is a byproduct of the ultrafiltering process and is rich in lactose, a type of sugar that can be fed to yeast to make ethanol. Dairy Distiller has historically used the ethanol to produce vodka, but the company will soon feed it to American vehicles as well. A $41 million plant is planned to open in early 2025 next to an existing Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) location in Constantine, Michigan. The plant will be capable of processing 14,000 tonnes of milk permeate into 2.2 million gallons of ethanol annually. The new Constantine location is being supported by $2.5 million in funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund and will offset 14,500 tonnes of carbon per year when blended with transportation fuel. The MMPA estimates that this will help reduce the carbon footprint of the Constantine milk processing plant by five percent.

While finding uses for milk byproducts is certainly positive, it is important to note that the dairy industry is very carbon intensive. The American Dairy Association reports that the industry accounts for roughly two percent of total US greenhouse gas emissions, or 20 percent of the agriculture sector’s emissions. Dairy farming in Michigan and Ohio have also been linked to the toxic algae blooms currently plaguing Lake Erie, reports the Environmental Working Group. Recent studies have suggested that even when ethanol is made from corn, it can be more damaging to the environment than fossil fuels, suggesting that the possible environmental benefits of the product are closely linked to how it is sourced.

Michigan Milk Producers Association Partners with Dairy Distiller to Convert Milk Byproduct into Ethanol for Cars: A Step Towards Sustainability?

Michigan dairy farmers have partnered with Dairy Distiller, a Canadian company that produces Vodkow, a milk-based vodka, to convert milk permeate into ethanol for cars. Milk permeate is a byproduct of the ultrafiltering process and is rich in lactose, a type of sugar that can be fed to yeast to make ethanol. Dairy Distiller has historically used the ethanol to produce vodka, but the company will soon feed it to American vehicles as well. A $41 million plant is planned to open in early 2025 next to an existing Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) location in Constantine, Michigan. The plant will be capable of processing 14,000 tonnes of milk permeate into 2.2 million gallons of ethanol annually. The new Constantine location is being supported by $2.5 million in funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund and will offset 14,500 tonnes of carbon per year when blended with transportation fuel. The MMPA estimates that this will help reduce the carbon footprint of the Constantine milk processing plant by five percent.

While finding uses for milk byproducts is certainly positive, it is important to note that the dairy industry is very carbon intensive. The American Dairy Association reports that the industry accounts for roughly two percent of total US greenhouse gas emissions, or 20 percent of the agriculture sector’s emissions. Dairy farming in Michigan and Ohio have also been linked to the toxic algae blooms currently plaguing Lake Erie, reports the Environmental Working Group. Recent studies have suggested that even when ethanol is made from corn, it can be more damaging to the environment than fossil fuels, suggesting that the possible environmental benefits of the product are closely linked to how it is sourced.

Michigan Milk Producers Association and Dairy Distiller Partner to Convert Milk Byproduct into Ethanol for Cars: A Step Towards Sustainable Fuel?

Michigan dairy farmers have partnered with Dairy Distiller, a Canadian company that produces Vodkow, a milk-based vodka, to convert milk permeate into ethanol for cars. Milk permeate is a byproduct of the ultrafiltering process and is rich in lactose, a type of sugar that can be fed to yeast to make ethanol. Dairy Distiller has historically used the ethanol to produce vodka, but the company will soon feed it to American vehicles as well. A $41 million plant is planned to open in early 2025 next to an existing Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) location in Constantine, Michigan. The plant will be capable of processing 14,000 tonnes of milk permeate into 2.2 million gallons of ethanol annually. The new Constantine location is being supported by $2.5 million in funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund and will offset 14,500 tonnes of carbon per year when blended with transportation fuel. The MMPA estimates that this will help reduce the carbon footprint of the Constantine milk processing plant by five percent.

While finding uses for milk byproducts is certainly positive, it is important to note that the dairy industry is very carbon intensive. The American Dairy Association reports that the industry accounts for roughly two percent of total US greenhouse gas emissions, or 20 percent of the agriculture sector’s emissions. Dairy farming in Michigan and Ohio have also been linked to the toxic algae blooms currently plaguing Lake Erie, reports the Environmental Working Group. Recent studies have suggested that even when ethanol is made from corn, it can be more damaging to the environment than fossil fuels, suggesting that the possible environmental benefits of the product are closely linked to how it is sourced.

Michigan Milk Producers Association and Dairy Distiller Partner to Convert Milk Byproduct into Ethanol for Cars: A Step Towards Sustainable Fuel?

Michigan dairy farmers have partnered with Dairy Distiller, a Canadian company that produces Vodkow, a milk-based vodka, to convert milk permeate into ethanol for cars. Milk permeate is a byproduct of the ultrafiltering process and is rich in lactose, a type of sugar that can be fed to yeast to make ethanol. Dairy Distiller has historically used the ethanol to produce vodka, but the company will soon feed it to American vehicles as well. A $41 million plant is planned to open in early 2025 next to an existing Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) location in Constantine, Michigan. The plant will be capable of processing 14,000 tonnes of milk permeate into 2.2 million gallons of ethanol annually. The new Constantine location is being supported by $2.5 million in funding from the Michigan Strategic Fund and will offset 14,500 tonnes of carbon per year when blended with transportation fuel. The MMPA estimates that this will help reduce the carbon footprint of the Constantine milk processing plant by five percent.