Sustainable Farming - Cloned copy to test Image changes
Origin Green and SDAS
We are a founding member and have participated in Origin Green since 2012. Origin Green is the Irish National Food Sustainability Programme initiated by the Irish Food Board, Bord Bia. The programme requires members to prepare a bespoke company charter and all our dairy suppliers must be participants and certified by the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS).
SDAS is the first national dairy audit scheme of its kind anywhere in the world – independently auditing, recording and monitoring sustainability credentials of each of our dairy farms every 18 months.
Environmental, social and economic sustainability is becoming more important in the purchasing decisions of global food companies. We are proud to be able to demonstrate that sustainable practices are core to our ethos as demonstrated by our mission; “Working with nature to bring the passion of our Irish farmers to the world”, and our vision; “Grow together to enrich all the communities we serve” and our purpose; “Goodness Grows Here”.
Supporting farmer sustainability
We support our farmers’ sustainability work with a team of Milk Quality and Sustainability Managers who support the Open Source programme and assist milk suppliers to meet the SDAS standards. Our advisory teams work closely with our farmers, offering support across many areas including:
- Farm development
- Succession planning
- Financial planning
- Milk quality
- Animal health and welfare
- Soil health
- Grassland management
- Nutrient management planning
- Energy efficiency
- Carbon emissions
- Water use
- Waste management
- Biodiversity
- Health and safety
Our grass based system
We are the only dairy ingredients company in the world to commission independent, third-party animal welfare verification. We have our own in-house veterinarian who leads our herd health, advisory and animal welfare programmes. We promote the implementation of the best practice hygiene, quality, animal welfare and sustainability practices by all our suppliers which includes:
- The commitment of our farmers to the animals in their care and our outdoor grass-based milk production system, ensuring the health and welfare of animals in our herds sets a leading standard internationally.
- The highest standards of welfare for all their livestock by employing best practice in animal husbandry and meeting all of the requirements of the Bord Bia SDAS and our own Open Source Dairy Code.
- Good calf management is part of good dairy farming practice, planning and economics. The management of newborn and young calves is an essential part of our standards for all of our suppliers.
- Providing our milk suppliers with regular technical updates outlining best practice management guidelines on a variety of animal health and welfare topics, eg dairy calf management guidelines, heifer-rearing programme, parasite control at housing and disease prevention and management.
- Observation of preventative medicine practices, including vaccines, good hygiene, nutrition and biosecurity, to ensure diseases are prevented or controlled on our farms.
- Reducing the overall need for antibiotic treatments, as well as improving animal health and performance, vaccinations and other preventative measures are promoted across our entire supply base to minimise the effects of animal diseases.
- Providing and promoting a range of diagnostic services that support farmers in making the best herd health decisions.
Our grass based system
We are the only dairy ingredients company in the world to commission independent, third-party animal welfare verification. We have our own in-house veterinarian who leads our herd health, advisory and animal welfare programmes. We promote the implementation of the best practice hygiene, quality, animal welfare and sustainability practices by all our suppliers which includes:
- The commitment of our farmers to the animals in their care and our outdoor grass-based milk production system, ensuring the health and welfare of animals in our herds sets a leading standard internationally.
- The highest standards of welfare for all their livestock by employing best practice in animal husbandry and meeting all of the requirements of the Bord Bia SDAS and our own Open Source Dairy Code.
- Good calf management is part of good dairy farming practice, planning and economics. The management of newborn and young calves is an essential part of our standards for all of our suppliers.
- Providing our milk suppliers with regular technical updates outlining best practice management guidelines on a variety of animal health and welfare topics, eg dairy calf management guidelines, heifer-rearing programme, parasite control at housing and disease prevention and management.
- Observation of preventative medicine practices, including vaccines, good hygiene, nutrition and biosecurity, to ensure diseases are prevented or controlled on our farms.
- Reducing the overall need for antibiotic treatments, as well as improving animal health and performance, vaccinations and other preventative measures are promoted across our entire supply base to minimise the effects of animal diseases.
- Providing and promoting a range of diagnostic services that support farmers in making the best herd health decisions.
Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advice Programme (ASSAP)
We are proud to be associated with the instigation of the ASSAP plan. ASSAP is a government and industry collaborative initiative. This programme supports the goals of the Food Wise 2025 strategy, facilitating increased productivity from a sustainability focused dairy sector. The programme aims to improve water and air quality and wider sustainability benefits by offering farmers a free, voluntary, confidential support and advisory service , provided by 30 dedicated sustainability advisors operating throughout the 190 identified ‘Areas for Action’.
Animal welfare
We are the only dairy ingredients company in the world to commission independent, third-party animal welfare verification. We have our own in-house veterinarian who leads our herd health, advisory and animal welfare programmes. We promote the implementation of the best practice hygiene, quality, animal welfare and sustainability practices by all our suppliers which includes:
- The commitment of our farmers to the animals in their care and our outdoor grass-based milk production system, ensuring the health and welfare of animals in our herds sets a leading standard internationally.
- The highest standards of welfare for all their livestock by employing best practice in animal husbandry and meeting all of the requirements of the Bord Bia SDAS and our own Open Source Dairy Code.
- Good calf management is part of good dairy farming practice, planning and economics. The management of newborn and young calves is an essential part of our standards for all of our suppliers.
- Providing our milk suppliers with regular technical updates outlining best practice management guidelines on a variety of animal health and welfare topics, eg dairy calf management guidelines, heifer-rearing programme, parasite control at housing and disease prevention and management.
- Observation of preventative medicine practices, including vaccines, good hygiene, nutrition and biosecurity, to ensure diseases are prevented or controlled on our farms.
- Reducing the overall need for antibiotic treatments, as well as improving animal health and performance, vaccinations and other preventative measures are promoted across our entire supply base to minimise the effects of animal diseases.
- Providing and promoting a range of diagnostic services that support farmers in making the best herd health decisions.
Sponsor of Climate Smart Agriculture initiative
We are a sponsor of The Institute of International and European Affairs and the Royal Dublin Society Leadership Forum on Climate-Smart Agriculture. The forum promotes awareness and adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural policies and practices in Ireland and works to establish Ireland as a climate-smart leader internationally.
A key aspect of its work is to ensure that findings are communicated and understood nationally and internationally, with a view to supporting the work of the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture.
We are committed to sustainably growing our increased milk supply in the post quota era and see the IIEA / RDS Climate-Smart Leadership Forum as a critical vehicle for consultation on policy development.
This initiative is also supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Combined, these factors offer assurance and transparency for our customers, with a clear audit trail from the farm, to our processing plants, to the end product.