UK | Tesco and its milk suppliers Arla and Müller UK and Ireland have joined forces to launch a farmer-led partnership to put sustainability at the heart of the dairy industry.
The launch of the Future Dairy Partnership has marked a significant step towards uniting the dairy industry to accelerate emissions reduction, farm in harmony with nature, and commit to higher animal welfare standards.
With climate change already impacting food production in the UK, uncertainty regarding the dairy industry's future has reduced the milk supply. It has the potential to affect food security.
To tackle these issues, Tesco, Arla and Müller have pledged to bring together organisations across the dairy industry to reduce on-farm emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
“The UK dairy industry puts natural, nutritious food on the table for millions daily. However, we also know that we must accelerate our action to address the ongoing challenges that climate emergency presents to our food system,” said Bas Padberg, managing director at Arla Foods UK.
“We can do more together than we can alone, and with real collaboration, we can drive a transformation. That’s why, through Arla’s partnership initiation, Arla and Tesco welcome the rest of the dairy industry to join us on this journey. With all our major fresh milk supply customers already on the Arla FarmAhead Customer Partnership, we are in a strong position to lead the needed change with our farmer-owners. The time is now to unite, invest, and make a lasting impact for future generations.”
With Arla and Müller joining the partnership, all 400 of Tesco’s Sustainable Dairy Group (TSDG) farmers across the UK will be part of the initiative. Suppliers and retailers have also broadened the partnership by contacting other organisations across the dairy industry for input and support.
“We’ve been leading the transition to a low-carbon agriculture sector for some time through our close, long-term partnerships with our Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group farmers. The group has pioneered groundbreaking work in several areas, including animal welfare improvements, carbon footprinting, and introducing innovations such as methane-reducing additives,” said Ashwin Prasad, Chief Commercial Officer at Tesco.
“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 partner with Arla and Muller on this project. We must 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.”
Farmers that supply Tesco have been consulted and will be vital in creating the programme roadmap.
“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 Muller, we have collaboratively set out standards to measure our carbon footprint and improve animal welfare and biodiversity on our farms. All whilst still producing highly nutritious food at an affordable cost,” said Will Hosford, Arla Farmer and Dave Jones, Muller farmer and joint chair of the TSDG.
“We recognise that there is even more to be done, which 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.”
Building on the foundation of the Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group, the partnership will see the two milk processors collaborate to innovate, share learnings, and reduce emissions faster.
The Future Dairy Partnership will drive progress across several key areas, including on-farm projects, industry reports and a Sustainable Dairy Blueprint.
“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 percent by 2030,” said Rob Hutchison, chief executive of Müller Milk and Ingredients.
“We’re delighted to work together with Tesco and Arla on initiatives like the Future dairy partnership, which is key to helping us achieve our goal of creating a better dairy future.”
