UK Dairy Roadmap signs up to sustainability initiative
The UK dairy industry, under the banner of the Dairy Roadmap, has become an aggregating member of the Dairy Sustainability Framework (DSF). The DSF is a global initiative that represents a commitment from signatories to monitor and report data on sustainability in a globally aligned and consistent way.
The Dairy Roadmap – comprised of Dairy UK, The National Farmers Union (NFU) and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) – joins an aligned global network for sustainable dairy.
The UK will therefore begin reporting across the Dairy Sustainability Frameworks, on up to 11 sustainability indicators and strategic intents.
Policy and sustainability director of Dairy UK, Peter Dawson, said, “Joining the Dairy Sustainability Framework will ensure that the UK is at the forefront of sustainability reporting globally, and once again shows as a sector we’re driving improvements in meeting and measuring sustainability targets.”
NFU dairy board chairman, Michael Oakes, said, “Signing up to the Dairy Sustainability Framework is important so that British dairy farmers can better understand how we compare environmentally on a global scale.
“It’s also important that we work together with dairy farmers in other parts of the world to actively improve the dairy industry’s commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Gwyn Jones, AHDB dairy chairman, said as the environment is increasingly of concern to consumers it’s right that the industry is open with data to “maintain the high levels of trust dairy farmers have with the public.”
Over the coming year, the Dairy Roadmap will set priorities to deliver a new vision for UK Sustainable Dairy.
The DSF was created as a global program under the Global Dairy Agenda for Action for sustainability activities undertaken by the dairy sector. The DSF’s function is to align, connect and progress dairy sustainability in a global dairy sector.
The DSF Vision is ‘a vibrant dairy sector committed to continuously improving its ability to provide safe and nutritious products from healthy cattle, whilst preserving natural resources and ensuring decent livelihoods across the industry.’
