Breastfeeding’s Hidden Wealth: A New Global Tool Puts a Price on Mother’s Milk

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Breastfeeding’s Hidden Wealth: A New Global Tool Puts a Price on Mother’s Milk

A groundbreaking digital tool is revolutionizing the way we value breastfeeding, not just in terms of health but also in terms of economic worth.



Introduction: Breastfeeding as a National Asset

Breastfeeding has long been recognized as the biological gold standard of infant nutrition. However, its immense economic value has remained largely invisible in national and global accounting systems—until now.

A new study published in Frontiers in Public Health introduces the Mothers' Milk Tool (MMT), a data-driven model that calculates the volume and monetary value of human breast milk. This tool aims to reshape public perception and policy by highlighting breastfeeding as a valuable economic activity, not just a maternal duty.

Why Breast Milk Matters Beyond Health

Breast milk offers unparalleled nutritional, immunological, and emotional benefits to infants. However, the economic implications of not breastfeeding go unnoticed. According to economists like Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz, excluding breast milk from national productivity measures such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a significant oversight.

Consequences of this omission include:

  • Inadequate paid maternity leave

  • Aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes

  • Poor policy support for breastfeeding-friendly environments

Despite revisions to the System of National Accounting (SNA) in 1993 that allowed for breast milk in GDP, actual policy applications remain minimal.

Existing Tools vs. the New Mothers' Milk Tool (MMT)

Before MMT, two main tools existed:

  1. Cost of Not Breastfeeding (CNB) Tool

  2. World Breastfeeding Costing Initiative (WBCi Costing Tool)

While these estimate the cost of inaction, MMT provides a proactive, evidence-based estimate of the value of human milk production.

What Is the Mothers' Milk Tool (MMT)?

The MMT is an innovative, online, open-access tool that:

  • Estimates the volume of human milk produced

  • Calculates its market-equivalent monetary value

  • Highlights lost production due to barriers like inadequate support and cultural norms

It works on national, individual, and global levels, providing comprehensive insight into the financial impact of breastfeeding—or the lack thereof.

How the Tool Was Developed

A multidisciplinary team of researchers designed the MMT through

  • A systematic review of existing tools and literature

  • Identification of essential data sources (open-access databases)

  • Validation using historical data and potential user feedback

  • Integration of predictive modeling for countries with limited breastfeeding data

Key Findings: Breastfeeding by the Numbers

According to MMT data:

  • 35.6 billion liters of breast milk are produced daily worldwide.

  • This represents only 62% of the global potential under optimal conditions.

  • The 38% loss in milk production is equal to approximately US$2.2 trillion annually, valued at about $100 per liter.

Country Comparisons: Gains and Losses

The study analyzed data from 14 countries, showing stark contrasts:

High-Income Nations

  • USA: Produced 605 million liters; lost a significant portion.

  • Ireland: Produced only 4 million liters, losing 80% of its potential.

  • Australia: Lost two-thirds of its milk output.

Low- and Middle-Income Nations

  • Nepal: Produced 220 million liters, maintaining 95% of its capacity.

  • India: Produced 8.7 billion liters but lost 40%, equating to a loss of US$146 billion.

  • Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam: Lost only one-third or less of their breastfeeding potential.

Why These Numbers Matter

Breastfeeding is not just a personal choice—it's a public good. The MMT reveals that human milk is

  • A sustainable, nutritious food source

  • Critical for infant food security

  • A form of unpaid labor by women that supports national health systems

  • A natural solution to reduce pressure on food production and environmental resources

Policy Implications and Future Directions

The data from the MMT can:

  1. Inform policymakers about the true economic value of breastfeeding.

  2. Encourage investments in breastfeeding support, such as:

    • Paid maternity leave

    • Lactation rooms in public places and workplaces

    • Public education campaigns

  3. It can be used in cost-effectiveness analyses for health programs.

  4. Help track greenhouse gas savings from breastfeeding compared to formula production.

Conclusion: Making the Invisible Visible

Breastfeeding is a powerful act of maternal care with far-reaching economic and environmental benefits. The Mothers' Milk Tool offers tangible evidence that supports

  • National breastfeeding promotion programs

  • Health equity and maternal rights

  • Food security and sustainability

By recognizing breast milk as a valuable national asset, we can transform public health strategies, support mothers, and build a healthier future for all.


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