Excellent results have already been achieved in dairy industry sustainability. In 20 years, the emission of ammonia has been reduced by half, and the emission of greenhouse gases reduced by almost 20%. In addition, there are comprehensive quality systems and terms of delivery for hygiene, quality of milk, and animal welfare, among other things, and the dairy sector adheres to strict Dutch and European regulations. Structural developments such as the expansion of dairy farms, the increase of milk production per cow, and the abolishment of the milk quota demand further steps in sustainability. The world population and welfare are also rising, which subsequently increases the demand for dairy production. This is why the Dutch Dairy Organisation (NZO) and the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture (LTO) set up the Sustainable Dairy Chain, a unique chain collaboration between dairy farmers and the dairy industry with ambitious objectives in four key areas:
Climate and energy
- 30% reduction of greenhouse gases in 2020 as compared to 1990, including climate-neutral growth
- 20% sustainable energy in 2020 and an energy-neutral dairy chain
- 2% energy efficiency per year (1.5% factories and 0.5% chain), and a total of 30% energy efficiency in the 2005-2020 period, 2% energy conservation for cattle farmers each year
Animal health and animal welfare
- Reduction of antibiotic resistance. By 2013, antibiotic use should be back to 1999 level.
- Increasing average life expectancy of cows, particularly by the strong reduction of mastitis and lameness
- 5% sustainable housing in 2011. By 2015, all new cowsheds will be fully sustainable.
Grazing
- Maintain current level of outdoor grazing
Biodiversity and the environment
- 100% use of RTRS (Round Table on Responsible Soy) certified sustainable soya and sustainable palm kernel expeller by 2015
- Actions and measures that directly and indirectly influence the phosphate volume and the emission of ammonia
- Improving biodiversity
The implementation strategy of the Sustainable Dairy Chain consists of four steps: promoting innovation, making knowledge and tools available, monitoring, and obligatory measures.
Cattle farmers can compare themselves to fellow entrepreneurs and are stimulated to improve. Each dairy company chooses an approach that suits their business and formulates a sustainability programme. The progress towards the objectives is monitored by a sector report. Please see the Current page of our website for the latest information on the progress of the Sustainable Dairy Chain.
