India and Japan have begun discussions to promote sustainability and circular practices in the dairy sector through cooperative-led compressed biogas (CBG) projects, aiming to strengthen rural incomes and expand clean energy use.
The talks were held during a high-level meeting between India’s Ministry of Cooperation and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry at Atal Akshay Urja Bhawan in New Delhi, where both sides explored opportunities to set up CBG plants through dairy cooperatives, Indian Cooperative reported.
Dr. Ashish Bhutani said the ministry has been working to strengthen cooperative institutions and highlighted the growing need to integrate sustainability into the dairy ecosystem. He stressed that linking biogas plants with dairy cooperatives can play a key role in achieving this goal.
Officials said such projects can convert cattle waste into clean fuel and organic manure, providing farmers with an additional and stable source of income. The initiative is also expected to help reduce pollution, improve waste management and address sanitation issues in rural areas.
Bhutani added that the cooperative model offers a strong platform for scaling up such projects due to its direct connection with milk producers across the country.
The Japanese delegation, led by Takehiko Matsuo, discussed opportunities for collaboration in sustainable dairy infrastructure and clean energy solutions, bringing in technological expertise and global best practices.
Senior officials from both sides, including Raman Kumar and S. Rajeev, also participated in the meeting.
The discussions are seen as a step forward in linking cooperative development with renewable energy and rural sustainability under India’s broader vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi.”
