Arla Foods UK has unveiled a new standards model to drive sustainable business in the farming sector and solve some of the biggest challenges in the industry.
Called Arla UK 360, the programme covers the six areas which the company believes are essential to building a responsible dairy farm business. It incorporates best practices in animal health and welfare, people development, environment and natural resources, community engagement and economic resilience and reinvestment, and will then drive a vision for research and development areas.
The company said that challenges for UK dairy farmers are mounting, with ongoing volatility in the global milk markets and increasing consumer misunderstanding of the sector.
Graham Wilkinson, head of agriculture at Arla Foods UK and strategic lead for the Arla UK 360 programme, said: “This programme is a vision of how we help drive sustainable businesses for UK dairy farmers. It isn’t just about producing high-quality dairy products.
“It continues the journey of our owners in driving a sustainable business, as stewards of the countryside and a critical part of UK food production. Crucial to its success is the support of retailers and foodservice businesses, as only then can the vision become a reality on farms across the UK.”
While Arla Foods currently works with retailers across the UK in developing standards, the new approach of Arla UK 360 aims to unify this support so that more consistent industry-wide change can be achieved.
Wilkinson added: “Arla farmer-owners have a long-standing history of receiving support from UK retailers, however, with a new Agriculture Bill on the horizon, our owners want to drive sustainable change.”
In aligning behind one standard in farming, Arla Foods UK believes this will enable flexibility for farmers and individual retailers to partner on solving some of the biggest challenges for farming.
Aldi is the first UK grocery retailer to sign up to the initiative and its support will provide a premium to a selected group of Arla’s owners to deliver the standards on farm.
The retailer will work with its group of British Arla farmer-owners through the Aldi Dairy Farm Partnership to share knowledge through the supply chain and explore and tackle waste on farm, initially searching for ways to reuse or recycle on-farm plastic through the supply chain.
Aldi UK corporate responsibility managing director Fritz Walleczek said: “We have an excellent working relationship with Arla and are pleased to support this scheme through our new Aldi Dairy Farm Partnership. We will be working with our dedicated Arla farmers to continue to enhance animal welfare and farm management through the 360 programme. This builds on our longstanding commitment to support British farmers and suppliers.”
The programme has been developed following a six-month trial with 79 Arla farmer-owners. Additional areas that the scheme will seek to address with the support of retailers and foodservice companies include breeding calves with purpose, cow behavioural studies, waste reduction and reuse along with data-driven leadership.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024
