Criteria for sustainable milk production known

The certification scheme for the international quality mark 'On the way to PlanetProof' was presented last week. Approximately 10% of dairy farmers already meet this certificate. The goal of initiator SMK is to make dairy farming more sustainable.

The dairy farmers who this hallmark want to wear, must meet various general requirements: milk quality, safety of humans and animals and grazing. They must score at least the so-called 'basic level' for the themes of biodiversity, climate and animal welfare and animal health, and the 'highest level' must be achieved in 1 of the 3 categories. About 10% of dairy farmers now meet this requirement.

Importance for dairy farmers
Various parties, such as FrieslandCampina, Jumbo, Aldi, Coöp, Albron and Lidl, have shown interest. FrieslandCampina intends to introduce the first certified more sustainable milk to the market in 2019 (through the Top Dairy Line).

"Since the participation in the quality mark requires sustainability efforts, FrieslandCampina pays the member dairy farmers an extra fee for this milk", says Bas Roelofs, managing director at FrieslandCampina, know† With the Top-Zuivellijn, the dairy cooperative wants to meet the requirements for the PlanetProof quality mark.

Click here for a schematic representation of the criteria. 

Tim Roetman

Tim Roetman has been working as a junior editor at livestock farming since November 2018 Boerenbusiness† He mainly writes about (price) developments in the pig and dairy market.

t.roetman@boerenbusiness. Nl

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