Several decisions were taken and announced at the Members’ Council of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A. at its final meeting of 2022. Member dairy farmers will receive better advance insight into what sustainability efforts will yield financially. More money will be made available for sustainability with a focus on climate change: dairy farmers will receive more money for achieving greenhouse gas reductions. From next year, FrieslandCampina will also be expanding its cooperative operating area in Belgium and Germany. Finally, the Members’ Council was updated on the latest developments in the company.
Said Sybren Attema, chairman of Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A: “Over the past year, an intensive dialogue has taken place across the ranks of our cooperative on the revision of our sustainability programme Foqus planet, changes to the Milk Money Regulation and the expansion of the cooperative operating area. The high turnout at the local members’ meetings and the willingness to contribute ideas and talk about the future of our cooperative has led to innovations and changes with a clear focus on achieving our climate goals. The decisions we have taken represent the concrete implementation of our cooperative vision ‘Road Map to 2030’.”
The principal changes with effect from 2023
The Foqus planet system will be modified, giving members insight, ahead of time, into where the focus lies and what specific sustainability efforts will yield in financial terms. The updated system makes it possible for the cooperative and the company to determine which indicator(s) to focus on. Climate change is currently a key issue in relation to which FrieslandCampina wants to make accelerated gains: FrieslandCampina’s Climate Plan includes a greenhouse gas reduction target of 33 per cent by 2030 compared to 2015 for operations on the farm. This is why a maximum supplement of 1.50 euros per 100 kilogrammes of milk will apply within the new system for greenhouse gas reduction.
In addition, the Milk Money Regulation has been amended for the 2023-2025 period. As of January 2023, fat will receive a higher value compared to protein and lactose in the calculation of the milk money. The ratio of protein, fat and lactose components will shift from 10:5:1 (2020-2022) to 6:4:0. As regards the guaranteed price, the following new standard contents apply per 100 kilogrammes of milk: 3.58 percent for protein; 4.45 percent for fat; and 4.54 percent for lactose. The retained earnings policy will remain unchanged: 40 per cent of net profit is distributed to member dairy farmers and 60 per cent is added to the company’s equity.
In Belgium, the cooperative operating area will be expanded to include the Aalter and North Antwerp/North Limburg regions. In northern Germany, a part of the state of Lower Saxony will be added in the second half of 2023. This means that dairy farmers who have their farms in these areas will be able to supply FrieslandCampina with milk after joining the cooperative. For more visit FrieslandCampina.com
