FrieslandCampina and Mondelez join forces to bolster dairy farm sustainability in an effort to accelerate the reduction of on-farm carbon footprint. FrieslandCampina, in collaboration with its dairy farmer members, is committed to achieving net climate-neutral dairy production by 2050 at the latest. This goal is pursued through a comprehensive approach encompassing measurement, action, and monitoring.
Sanne Griffioen-Roose, director of farm sustainability at FrieslandCampina, highlights the benefits of collaborating with Mondelēz, stating that this partnership allows the cooperative to acknowledge and reward its farmers for their greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. Additionally, investing in sustainability improvement programs at the farms becomes possible through this collaboration. FrieslandCampina boasts a substantial membership of 15,137 dairy farmers spread across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
Mondelēz, which relies on milk from these farmers for its chocolate and biscuit production in Europe, will closely collaborate with FrieslandCampina to support its initiatives in tracking, reporting, and reducing emissions. This alliance not only assists FrieslandCampina in reaching its sustainability targets but also aids Mondelēz in attaining its own goals.
FrieslandCampina spokesperson, Floor Meijnders, explains that Dutch, Belgian, and German dairy farmer members who reduce GHG emissions on their farms will benefit from this partnership. FrieslandCampina’s sustainability program, Foqus planet, rewards farmers for achieving climate, biodiversity, pasture grazing, animal health, and animal welfare goals. As part of this program, farmers receive financial premiums based on their sustainability results. Notably, GHG reductions can earn them premiums of up to €1.50 per 100 kg of milk.
Griffioen-Roose emphasizes that this financial incentive empowers farmers to invest in their own dairy farm’s sustainability. FrieslandCampina employs the Annual Nutrient Cycling Assessment (ANCA), a monitoring tool widely used by nearly 10,000 of its member dairy farms in the Netherlands. ANCA provides valuable insights into farm-specific metrics, including carbon footprint size and biodiversity indicators. By implementing good agricultural practices such as waste reduction in feed cycles, minimal soil tillage, and local protein sources, dairy farms can further reduce emissions. Moreover, dairy farmers can generate renewable energy for self-use and supply it to FrieslandCampina’s production sites.
In 2022, Mondelez International achieved a net revenue of approximately US$11.42 billion in Europe. With a presence in 49 countries and over 34,000 employees, Mondelez’s portfolio features renowned global and local brands such as OREO, belVita, LU biscuits, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka, Toblerone, Côte d’Or chocolate, Philadelphia cream cheese, and Halls candies.
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