FrieslandCampina has announced a commitment to sustainable milk production with a focus on animals, nature and the climate.
The Dutch dairy company has proposed to its members the introduction of a top dairy line to produce dairy with a lower CO2 equivalent and a high score on animal welfare and on biodiversity.
It said the top dairy line is aligned to its meadow grazing standard and the new standard for the intrinsic link between farmers and the available land for their operations.
Member dairy farmers that have committed themselves to sustainable and special milk supply will receive higher payments in line with market value creation for such milk.
FrieslandCampina will also further invest to expand its existing sustainable and special milk flows. Expectations are that the first dairy products of the top line will be on supermarket shelves early 2019.
Royal FrieslandCampina CEO Hein Schumacher said: “By accelerating our sustainability efforts we set the bar higher for dairy in general. The introduction of our sustainable top dairy line is a great example of this. With this we strengthen our purpose nourishing by nature.
“Increasingly better nutrition for our consumers and a good living for our dairy farmers. This is what it’s all about, now and in the future.”
Frans Keurentjes, chairman of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina, added: “Sustainable milk will pay off, we are convinced of that. Being one of the leading dairy cooperatives in the world we ask our members to show strong commitment to meeting the demand for more sustainable and special milk flows.
“In addition to the higher payment for sustainability, we are aiming at well-balanced and market-driven growth. This will help us create a cooperative in which a next generation of farmers is guaranteed a future.”
The company said it will discuss the proposals with its member dairy farmers in the coming months. A decision will be taken in the course of this year and it is expected the initiative will come into effect on 1 January 2019.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024