British farmer-owned dairy co-operative First Milk is partnering with pioneering organic dairy manufacturer Yeo Valley Production to create a new “regenerative milk pool”.
The Naturally Better Dairy Group is a collaboration between the two organisations that will see First Milk establish a new “conventional regenerative” milk pool in the Southwest of England. This, it says, will be founded on the principles of nature-positive farming, and the group will supply Yeo Valley Production with milk for manufacturing dairy products, with farmers committing to delivering ever better outcomes in terms of animal welfare, climate, biodiversity and local community.
Recruitment for the new group will commence immediately, and First Milk members within the catchment area will also be invited to join.
Commenting on the development, Shelagh Hancock, chief executive, First Milk, said: “As the Regenerative co-op, we firmly believe that this approach to farming is the way to continue to produce affordable, nutritious food whilst addressing the growing climate and nature challenges we face. We currently operate the largest regenerative farming programme in the UK dairy sector, and we’re delighted to have agreed this exciting partnership with Yeo Valley Production, which will see us broaden this activity further, demonstrating that great tasting dairy can be a force for good.”
Rob Sexton, CEO, Yeo Valley Production added: “We’re excited to be working with the First Milk team and bringing our experience to this forward thinking and nature positive conventional milk partnership. We are passionate about producing nutritious, affordable foods that are farmed in harmony with nature. This partnership will ensure great farming, producing natural, healthy food, is both affordable and scalable. We look forward to working closely with First Milk and their amazing farmers to nurture and nourish both people and the planet.”