from a dairy farm can be absorbed by pastures and hedges which store carbon and maintain biodiversity.
OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
TRIPLE BENEFITS Via our Responsible Dairy Sourcing program, we help our milk producers reduce their environmental footprint whilst at the same time improving the economic performance of their farms and the naturalness of their milk.
To that end, we offer them a complete diagnosis of their farms conducted in partnership with the independent experts of the French Institut de l Élevage (Institute of Breeding), Institut de l Agriculture Durable (Institute for Sustainable Agriculture) and Filière Conseil Ingénierie (an organization providing advisory and consultative agronomic services). There are 10 focuses: carbon retention and gross carbon footprint, consumption of water and energy, water quality, soil health, biodiversity, terroir and naturalness, cows wellbeing and health and nutrition.
Areas for improvement are identified for each focus and proposals for action are submitted to the producers who are free to choose which they wish to implement.
CONJUGATING NATURALNESS AND PROFITABILITY Developing pasture and natural herd feeding are at the heart of the Responsible Dairy Sourcing program.
Grass is excellent for milk quality, herd health, the environment and farms economy. Pastures store carbon, prevent soil erosion, filter water, encourage biodiversity and enable natural recycling of cowpats. Properly managed, they require virtually no use of pesticides or fertilizers, thereby rendering farms self-sustaining and so reducing their exposure to rising prices for farm inputs. Alfalfa grass, for example, improves milk s nutritional profile and taste and can be easily stored as hay, in silos or dehydrated.
Responsible Dairy Sourcing is also a matter of promoting best watering and cleaning practices in order to improve animal wellbeing whilst at the same time reducing farms water consumption.
50%
KEY FOCUSES
10 QUALITY
OF WATER
TERROIR AND NATURALNESS
CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY
SOIL HEALTH
COWS WELLBEING
BIODIVERSITY CONSUMPTION OF WATER
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
GROSS CARBON FOOTPRINT
CARBON RETENTION
Enhances: Herd health Milk quality Farm profitability Reduce: Inputs Working hours
RESPONSIBLE DAIRY SOURCING
RESPONSIBLE MILK SOURCING
WE SUPPORT OUR PRODUCERS IN THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR FARMS
2014 Annual Report 13