'Market demands dairy without GMO and glyphosate'

The announcement for the ban on glyphosate and GMO feed came in October last year. In addition, a plan has been presented with which member dairy farmers can earn additional premiums. An example of this is grazing the cows 180 days a year and including as much fresh grass as possible in the ration.

Since this date, members have been updated about the route to be followed and the how and why of these further steps taken by the dairy cooperative. Betten explains these plans and the route and answers why Cono Kaasmakers consciously does not opt ​​for a separate and distinctive dairy concept, like its competitors. FrieslandCampina en a-ware do well.

Why do you choose to ban glyphosate and GMO feed from 2020?
"Because the market demands it, and especially the German market. That country is a very important sales market for us (because of our premium brand 'Beemster Cheese'). We also want to remain distinctive and so we are leading the way in this. So I don't call ourselves forerunners, because they will one day be overtaken again. Being and remaining distinctive is what we aim for."

"At the same time, we also understand that a lot is being asked of dairy farmers today. That is why we announced this step last autumn and our members attended various workshops in the winter. In addition to the bans, we also offer plenty of new opportunities. Farmers who make extra efforts literally earn premiums on 18 different points."

First let's talk about those bans. Glyphosate is also used in bulb cultivation and many of your members exchange land with bulb growers. How do you deal with that?
"The basic principle is that we want our own grown roughage, which has come into contact with glyphosate, not to reach the cow's mouth. However, we cannot and do not want to ban its use by other growers. The definition of how to deal with this , is almost complete; the board will soon make a decision about this and it will first be shared with our dairy farmers."

"The ban on using glyphosate in our own business operations is absolute. This is one of the 1 indicators for which a premium of €18 per 0,05 kilos of milk is paid. We do this because the cultivation of silage maize on the dairy farm (as an example) requires a different working method from our members, as they are no longer allowed to use glyphosate."

The new premium system reads like an incentive. To what extent will it be mandatory for your member dairy farmers to comply with all points in the long term?
"We have set out a route, initially setting a horizon for 2025. The aim is for all farmers to meet these 18 indicators by then. Some can already meet most of them now, others need more time. The latter is not a problem, because we offer that time. In between, we continue to monitor how the members score and develop on all components. If necessary, we try to make adjustments, for example by giving extra workshops or in some other way."

"Ultimately, there will be some exceptions here and there, because not everyone, for example, can have enough acreage to graze cows 180 days a year. In the coming years we will see how that works out and how we deal with it. However, the big picture is that this program is a follow-up step to the previous versions of the Caring Dairy program. Most members now comply. To remain distinctive, we are now taking these extra steps."

Almost all members already practice grazing. Why don't you include an extra premium in the new Caring Dairy ++ for more use of meadows and fresh grass in the ration?
"As Cono Cheesemakers, we really are the grass cooperative of the Netherlands. We should perhaps say that more often and louder. We also do the same to customers at home and abroad and we really want to continue to live up to that. It is not without reason that our slogan 'Real and Honest'. Milk produced from fresh grass is simply the best for our cheeses. Our members know this and we are therefore encouraging this with an extra bonus in the new program."

Competing colleagues (such as FrieslandCampina and A-ware) are investing heavily in a new separate, extra sustainable milk flow. Why don't you choose that?
"If you get 50% of the farmers to do something extra and you can only market 25% of that separate milk flow for an additional price, the other half of the members pay the premium for these colleagues. That can be a choice, but we think so. not cooperative. In addition, we also have 1 large modern cheese factory. Bringing in a separate milk flow is actually practically unfeasible from a logistical perspective."

"Much more importantly, we consciously choose that all our member dairy farmers have an equal chance of earning the maximum premiums. The following also applies: the indicators that we are now setting out to achieve a plus on the milk price, (in addition to market demand), shape the laws and regulations of the future. By focusing on this, we also help our member dairy farmers to be ready for the playing field of tomorrow."