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The SDP broadens its impact by integrating Germany’s National Programme

29th July 2024

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SAI Platform’s Sustainable Dairy Partnership (SDP) continues to expand its reach with the integration of the German National Programme, QM Standard and Dairy Sustainability Tool. This step serves to seamlessly link the efforts of dairy farmers operating under QM’s programmes with the SDP framework, providing German processors with a structured platform to exhibit and endorse their sustainable practices.

The Sustainable Dairy Partnership is part of a broader movement towards sustainable agriculture, reflecting the growing importance of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability in the dairy sector.

The SDP is fundamentally a very practical solution for achieving real improvements in the dairy sector when it comes to sustainability – in all major production regions worldwide. It is important that the market players engage actively and are guided by the results of the collaborative effort.” 

Elisa Münster, Sustainability & Animal Welfare, QM-Milch.

With QM-Milch covering an impressive 92% of dairy farms and 95% of milk production in Germany, its integration into the Sustainable Dairy Partnership will stimulate broader adoption of the SDP among German processors and facilitate the sharing of on-farm sustainability performances with global dairy buyers. 

This marks an important step in boosting collaboration with dairy farmers in Germany. By showcasing sustainable practices and monitoring progress in a harmonised way, the SDP helps focus sector efforts on where they can have the most positive impact!” commented Paola Nogales, Raw & Pack Responsible Sourcing Manager at Ferrero.

Through the equivalency mapping process, the SDP not only recognises but incorporates the robust standards established by QM-Milch, thereby promoting a fully integrated and inclusive approach to sustainability within the dairy sector.

By recognising national programmes and reducing the burden of buyer-specific programmes and audits, the SDP enables processors to demonstrate and improve sustainability efforts without duplicating effort.

The integration into the SDP is an important step, because the reporting effort for German milk processors is reduced. In addition, it makes existing sustainability efforts of the German dairy sector visible to international dairy buyers, while promoting continuous improvement” commented Benjamin Dietrich, Head of Sustainability at Molkerei Ammerland.

Drawing insights from the integration of Origin Green in Ireland, Dairy Australia, and the US Dairy Stewardship Commitment into the SDP in July 2022, the collaboration with QM-Milch underscores a collective commitment to adopt a harmonised approach to on-farm sustainability reporting across dairy supply chains.

By fostering innovation, transparency, and collaboration, the SDP is driving positive change and proactively supporting the dairy industry in addressing the sectors’ sustainability challenges.