Cannabis Wealth speaks to Michael Kyriakou, Founder of Gaia’s Farming Co about how dairy farming needs to get a moo-ve on to be sustainable and how hemp could help
Alternative milk sales are soaring, especially when it comes to almond milk. The industry is set to be worth $705.3 million by 2025. Alternative milk makes up 12 per cent of all global milk sales. While almond milk has one of the lowest greenhouse emissions, water usage for farming is a huge sustainability problem especially in areas such as California that struggle with drought. It can take 6,098 litres to produce 1 litre of almond milk.
Biotech company Gaia’s Farming Co launched their first plant-based milk in January of this year in two flavours. Founder Michael Kyriakou was interested in making a milk alternative with farming professionals and microbiology experts to create a sustainable product.
Speaking with Cannabis Wealth, Michael said: “Our product is a combination of hemp and oat for various reasons. The biggest growth sector is typically almond milk but sustainably, that doesn’t fit because of the water usage. The way it is developed in California is quite damaging to the environment, the bees and ecosystems.
He added: “The market is booming in Europe, especially the UK. I discovered the world of hemp and realised that this could be a serious contender.”
Gaia’s Farming Co Hemp milk
Hemp has a number of nutritional benefits which could make it a viable alternative for dairy milk from a health perspective. It is a strong source of plant-based proteins, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and also iron. It is also suitable for anyone with a milk allergy or lactose intolerant. Gaia has gone one step further to ensure that their milk is also gluten-free – which is not always the case with oat-based drinks.
When it comes to consumer spending habits, there is an increased awareness around healthy alternatives but also, to environmental benefits of products such as hemp. The milk market began to decrease as plant-based became increasingly popular. However, it’s not just about an increase in veganism but also, growing awareness of the dangers of being too dependent on one industry that is doing environmental damage.
It is estimated that there are approximately 270 million dairy cows in the world. Cows can produce greenhouse gas emissions which are contributing to climate change. Their manure also contributes but if it isn’t disposed of correctly then it can pollute local water sources. Unsustainable dairy farming and feed production can also contribute to the degradation of wetlands and forests. In Australia and New Zealand, trials are ongoing into hemp as an alternative feed for cattle.
Michael added: “Consumers are very conscious of what they are putting into their bodies, especially since the pandemic. We saw a massive shift in terms of spending habits of consumers as dairy was dropping drastically around 6 per cent per year. One in three consumers now drinks plant-based milk so there is no real reason to be drinking cow’s milk anymore from a sustainability and health perspective. Especially now there are products out there that do more for you and the environment.”
When it comes to converting the masses, Michael says it’s all about the little wins.
“It’s not an aggressive approach but more an open-ended one where we give you options. My uncle who lives in the Midlands is a staunch milk drinker but has started to use our product on his cereal. It’s all about the little wins. If everyone changes their habits with one little thing like cereal, tea or coffee then we are all winning here,” he said.
“The game-changer for me was when I saw how hemp gives back to the soil. People don’t realise how important soil health is as you can store carbon dioxide in the soil and it can generate there. I understand that not everyone can afford organic food but it’s harder as we need more food to feed the population. Some countries use fertilisers and pesticides but hemp doesn’t need any.
Hemp converts the most CO2 into oxygen of any plant including four times more than trees. Hemp needs to be part of the conversation with legislative figures when talking about a NetZero society. Around 33 per cent of the sustainability messaging is around the food systems yet not a single thing is mentioned about hemp,” he said.
Plant-based sustainable change
The UK has committed to a new target to slash emissions by 78 per cent per cent by 2035 along with other countries in the race against climate change. Why is it that hemp is not being discussed as a viable or sustainable option more openly?
Michael believes it is down to education and the threat of big industries. Hemp’s ability to be used as concrete, energy or plastic could mean a complete change for large businesses.
Michael said; “People are scared about it because of its association with cannabis. Some of the people in industries that use fossil fuels or pulp don’t want it to be around. In the US, the hemp act was passed which means that it can be grown in each state however in the UK, they make it very hard for farmers to grow. It needs to change and we are fighting for that.”
It isn’t just about the milk as the company are also researching how to make butter and snacks. As a marketing strategy, Michael is hoping to build a buzz for Gaia Farming Co by hitting the right coffee shops across the country before concentrating on supermarket orders.
“We launched in January so the next step now will be to collaborate with coffee shops. We already have some amazing accounts on board. I don’t want to hit the supermarkets just yet but I want to work with coffee shops and build the community,” said Michael.
He added: “We want to go into health bars, snacks and nut butter. It’s very much about how we use hemp to make it commercially viable and accessible for consumers. It’s all about re-education because of the number of people who ask me if they can get high from it due to the tarnishing of hemp throughout the world. People don’t know about it so it’s about marketing, education and getting great sustainable products out there.”
