LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – As the race to find alternatives to traditional gas continues, some farmers are putting their minds together to make something out of the box.
The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) is slated to join forces with a Canadian Distillery to transform milk into ethanol fuel for vehicles.
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Dairy Distiller, an Ontario based company features a Vodkow line of spirits that uses a milk byproduct called milk permeate. It comes after a series of filtration leaving the natural sugar, before distillers add in the other ingredients including yeast before fermentation.
MMPA President and CEO Joe Diglio said the venture will help diversify their portfolio while furthering sustainable commitments according to Brownfield AG News.
“We know that costs are increasing while dairy prices today are decreasing,” he says. “We’re conscious of our efforts to continue to do our part and trying to get as much out to the members to keep a sustainable milk price in an operation for them going forward.”
The project is expected to cost roughly $41 million, in the hopes of offsetting the carbon footprint of the Constantine milk processing plant in southwest Michigan which hopes to go live in early 2025. When finished, the plant would produce more than two million gallons of ethanol.
“I’ve been inspired by MMPA dairy farmers and their commitment to sustainability. Using a milk byproduct to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy is an innovation that will make a significant contribution to MMPA’s net zero carbon emissions goal.” Dairy Distillery CEO Omid McDonald said.
The project also received a $2.5 million grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
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“Constructing an ethanol-processing plant at the Constantine facility compliments our focus on sustainability and provides a progressive, unique opportunity to utilize new technologies that add value to our current processing operations while further diversifying the markets we currently serve,” Diglio said in a statement. “It’s exciting to see innovative solutions such as this facility, which lead to growth and success for our members, employees, stakeholders and our communities.”
Currently, the Constantine plant produces about 14,000 tons of milk permeate, much of which is used to feed livestock.
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