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British retailer Tesco has launched the farmer-led Future Dairy Partnership in collaboration with its milk suppliers Arla and Müller UK & Ireland.

The partnership aims to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions, enhance animal welfare and protect and restore nature, whilst promoting a shared vision for the dairy industry to collaborate to build a more resilient and sustainable future.

The launch marks a significant step towards uniting the dairy industry to accelerate reduction of emissions, farm in harmony with nature and commit to higher animal welfare standards.

Under the deal, Tesco, Arla and Müller have pledged to bring together organisations from across the dairy industry to reduce on-farm emissions by 30% by 2030.

As both Arla and Müller are in the partnership, all 400 of Tesco’s Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) farmers across the UK will be part of the initiative. The companies are broadening the partnership by reaching out to other organisations across the dairy industry for input and support.

How the Future Dairy Partnership will accelerate the transition

The partnership will see Arla and Müller work together to innovate, share learnings and collaborate to go faster in reducing emissions. The Future Dairy Partnership will drive progress across several key areas, including:

🥛 The partnership will include on farm projects, such as the trial and roll-out of methane-reducing feed additives, as well as exploring new levers through a dedicated farmer focus group, who will test nature-led initiatives alongside reducing their carbon footprint. The partnership will also review how to up-scale these innovations for adoption across the UK dairy industry.

🥛 An industry-wide report will be produced that highlights the pathway to more sustainable dairy and the innovation and financial support needed across the agriculture sector to achieve this ambition.

🥛 A Sustainable Dairy Blueprint document will provide farmers with clear guidelines on sustainability targets and ethical practices, whilst ensuring farmers and processors have the flexibility to select the methods that best suit their operations and still meet these targets.

Ashwin Prasad, CCO at Tesco, said: “What’s clear is that to achieve our stretching climate and nature goals, we must work together as an industry to implement transformational improvements at pace, so we’re delighted to be partnering with Arla and Muller on this project. It’s critical we continue to ensure farmers play a pivotal role in this work, and we look forward to working with them as the work of the partnership is established.”

Arla Farmer Will Hosford and Müller farmer and joint chair of the TSDG, Dave Jones, commented: “As farmers, we are custodians of the countryside and our animals, and want to leave our farms in a better place for future generations. Through our longstanding relationship with Tesco, Arla and Müller, we have collaboratively set out standards to measure our carbon footprint, improve animal welfare and biodiversity on our farms. All whilst still producing highly nutritious food at an affordable cost.”

“We recognise that there is even more to be done and that will require additional effort and cost. Through this partnership and collaboration with the industry, we can share our experiences and benefit wider farmers to secure a more sustainable future for dairy.”

Bas Padberg, managing director at Arla Foods UK, added: “Through Arla’s initiation of the partnership, Arla and Tesco welcome the rest of the dairy industry to join us on this journey. We are now in a strong position to lead the change that is needed, together with our farmer owners. The time is now to unite, invest and make a lasting impact for generations to come.”

Rob Hutchison, CEO of Müller Milk & Ingredients, concluded: “We know our customers and consumers expect us to play a role in driving positive environmental changes within the dairy industry, and our commitment to this is underlined by our ambition to reduce emissions from our supplying farms by 30% by 2030. We’re delighted to work together with Tesco and Arla on initiatives like the Future dairy partnership which are key in helping us achieve our goal of creating a better dairy future.”

Farmers that supply Tesco are being consulted on the programme and will be key in creating the programme roadmap.

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