VALIO – REGENERATIVELY FARMED GRASSLAND ON DAIRY FARMS

Education creates a foundation for development

BSAG and Valio’s collaboration is part of a larger programme in which Valio is aiming to create a carbon-neutral milk chain by 2035. The carbon-neutral milk of the future will reduce emissions and ensure that carbon from the atmosphere is sequestered in at least the same quantities as it is generated on dairy farms, during transport, at factories, in the manufacture of packaging, and everywhere else along the way.

To achieve this goal, BSAG and Valio are training dairy farmers to become carbon farmers who increase carbon sequestration in the soil by way of their farming practices. During these training sessions, dairy farmers get to share any best practices that they already use on their farms. They also learn about carbon sequestration and climate issues. Valio has also joined the Carbon Action platform, which combines ambitious scientific research with practical work.

Towards multiple benefits

Crop rotation, grasslands that are rich in species, and maintaining plant coverage throughout the year are examples of ways in which farmers can promote carbon sequestration in the soil. Porous soil is also good at retaining nutrients, and prevents them from leaching into bodies of water. The soil health of fields therefore goes hand in hand with climate action and Baltic Sea conservation, which is why developing a carbon-neutral milk chain will also protect the Baltic Sea. Valio produces about 80 per cent of Finland’s milk, and the company owns 4,300 dairy farms through cooperatives. Collaboration between Valio and BSAG began in 2018.