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Nestlé and Vreugdenhil scale up CO2 reduction
Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods is accelerating the reduction of CO2 emissions in milk production in collaboration with Nestlé. The group of farmers participating in the program should more than double next year, while the ultimate target is more than two hundred participants.
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The CO2 program started in 2022 as Low Carbon Farming with fifty participants. With this first group, Vreugdenhil succeeded in realizing a 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Vreugdenhil and Nestlé want to increase this pace in order to achieve the set target of a 2030% emission reduction compared to 50 in 2018. In the photo: Vreugdenhil CEO Albert de Groot and CEO of Nestlé Netherlands Nikki Adamo.
The number of participants is now around eighty. Next year, another seventy should join, bringing the total to 150. This will be done under the banner of a renewed program, now called Tomorrow's Dairy.
The CO2 emissions, also known as the footprint mentioned, must be reduced through a series of measures aimed at better soil health, water management and biodiversity. Various resources are being deployed for this purpose. For example, the first 15% reduction was achieved partly through ration optimization and maximization, reduced use of artificial fertilizers, sowing plots with grass clover and the use of renewable diesel. Further steps are being taken, among other things, with the help of feed additives such as Bovaer and innovations on the farm.
The ambition is to eventually help more than two hundred dairy farmers with knowledge and financial resources to make their business operations more sustainable, both companies state. "With an individual business plan as a starting point, a customized advice is drawn up on how they can make their business future-proof by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Within the adjustments to the program, the intensive, personal guidance and training of participants by agricultural advisors remains as important as ever."
It is not very clear what reward the participating dairy farmers can earn. According to the message from Vreugdenhil and Nestlé, dairy farmers receive rewards based on achieved CO2-eq reductions. Every gram of CO2 reduction from 1.050 grams CO2 eq per kilo of milk counts for extra reward, but there are also other points (KPIs) that can be scored. A maximum of €5,00 per 100 kilos of milk is allowed are received from a mix of CO2 score and other indicators. For Bovaer, up to €1,00 per 100 kilos of milk is reimbursed.
Last year Vreugdenhil reported that the reward could increase up to €7000 per company, but this reward does not run through the milk money.