Valio's Updated Programme Focuses on Dairy Farm Climate Initiatives and Grazing
Source: The DairyNews
Valio's sustainability bonus programme is undergoing an update effective May 1, 2024, with a heightened emphasis on grazing practices and climate initiatives within dairy farming.
This program continues its dedication to advancing animal welfare, reducing dairy farm carbon footprints, and promoting milk production that supports biodiversity. The update will offer expanded options for voluntary actions, empowering dairy farmers to contribute further to sustainability efforts. Valio annually allocates approximately 50 million euros to its owner entrepreneurs for sustainability actions that surpass regulatory mandates.
Last updated in 2023, Valio's sustainability bonus programme incentivizes dairy farms with a two-cent per milk litre bonus, with an additional cent available for combining voluntary sustainability actions. These actions encompass measures such as enhancing animal welfare beyond regulatory standards, adopting farming practices that support biodiversity, promoting cattle grazing and outdoor activities, and implementing strategies to reduce farm carbon footprints. Impressively, 86% of Valio's dairy farms are engaged in voluntary sustainability initiatives.
Moving forward, the sustainability bonus will consist of a basic one-cent per milk litre bonus, applicable to all dairy farm entrepreneurs, with an additional two-cent bonus awarded for voluntary actions. To qualify for the basic bonus, dairy farm entrepreneurs must fulfill criteria such as joining Naseva, the Centralised Health Care Register for Finnish Cattle Herds, and maintaining a healthcare agreement with a veterinarian to oversee herd health.
The updated voluntary measures, effective May, encompass actions concerning animal welfare, farm emission reduction, biodiversity enhancement, and milk quality and safety. Furthermore, dairy farmers can earn additional sustainability bonuses for initiatives related to milk quality assurance, including electronic pharmaceutical treatment records.
Ulf Jahnsson, Vice President of Primary Production and Milk Procurement at Valio, emphasizes the program's commitment to exceeding legal requirements. He highlights the recent Animal Welfare Act and its influence on program updates, emphasizing that Valio's sustainability initiatives reward efforts that surpass legal mandates, particularly in emission reduction and milk quality.
Sanna Nokka, Development Manager at Valio, underscores the company's dedication to promoting animal welfare and sustainability solutions on farms, recognizing the correlation between animal health, farmer workload, and overall farm wellbeing.
Dairy farms participating in the sustainability program select voluntary actions annually, providing entrepreneurs with flexibility. Popular choices include initiatives related to carbon farming methods, biodiversity, and cattle health monitoring. Carbon farming practices, implemented on approximately 1,500 farms in 2023, aim to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance soil health, thereby improving crop yields and farm profitability.
Last updated in 2023, Valio's sustainability bonus programme incentivizes dairy farms with a two-cent per milk litre bonus, with an additional cent available for combining voluntary sustainability actions. These actions encompass measures such as enhancing animal welfare beyond regulatory standards, adopting farming practices that support biodiversity, promoting cattle grazing and outdoor activities, and implementing strategies to reduce farm carbon footprints. Impressively, 86% of Valio's dairy farms are engaged in voluntary sustainability initiatives.
Moving forward, the sustainability bonus will consist of a basic one-cent per milk litre bonus, applicable to all dairy farm entrepreneurs, with an additional two-cent bonus awarded for voluntary actions. To qualify for the basic bonus, dairy farm entrepreneurs must fulfill criteria such as joining Naseva, the Centralised Health Care Register for Finnish Cattle Herds, and maintaining a healthcare agreement with a veterinarian to oversee herd health.
The updated voluntary measures, effective May, encompass actions concerning animal welfare, farm emission reduction, biodiversity enhancement, and milk quality and safety. Furthermore, dairy farmers can earn additional sustainability bonuses for initiatives related to milk quality assurance, including electronic pharmaceutical treatment records.
Ulf Jahnsson, Vice President of Primary Production and Milk Procurement at Valio, emphasizes the program's commitment to exceeding legal requirements. He highlights the recent Animal Welfare Act and its influence on program updates, emphasizing that Valio's sustainability initiatives reward efforts that surpass legal mandates, particularly in emission reduction and milk quality.
Sanna Nokka, Development Manager at Valio, underscores the company's dedication to promoting animal welfare and sustainability solutions on farms, recognizing the correlation between animal health, farmer workload, and overall farm wellbeing.
Dairy farms participating in the sustainability program select voluntary actions annually, providing entrepreneurs with flexibility. Popular choices include initiatives related to carbon farming methods, biodiversity, and cattle health monitoring. Carbon farming practices, implemented on approximately 1,500 farms in 2023, aim to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance soil health, thereby improving crop yields and farm profitability.