FERRERO PARTNERS WITH FAI FARMS TO USE SCIENCE IN SHAPING ITS DAIRY SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY

Delivering quality through a sustainable supply chain

At Ferrero, quality is at the heart of what we do. As part of our efforts to build a comprehensive programme dedicated to animal welfare and the sustainability of our dairy supply chain, we source our milk directly from dairy partners selected according to strict quality standards We are also aiming to create full traceability of our milk supply chain back to dairy farms globally , and we work with our suppliers to drive continual improvement and encourage them to adopt best practices in milk production. 

Partnering with FAI farms to use science to shape the next steps 

To further build and shape our dairy sustainability stratetgy, a multitude of sustainability issues need to be addressed, such as ensuring high standards of animal welfare, reducing carbon emissions and managing the impacts of dairy farming on water and biodiversity. For us, it us crucial to decide wisely where to focus, and to inform and shape the programme by the latest science and evidence.

To achieve this, Ferrero has partnered with FAI farms - a consultancy and research organisation dedicated to driving progress towards food sustainability, to create a science-backed programme to help shape the Ferrero programme. 

“We value FAI’s ability to translate the latest scientific research and best practice into tailored and practical strategies which can work for our business. Their insights are helping us improve our dairy sustainability strategy and focus in the right areas,” states Stefano Severi, head of Ferrero Responsible Sourcing team. 

Every year, FAI Farms provides Ferrero with the latest scientific research compiled through 100s of scientifically backed papers recently published in the area of dairy sustainability and a report divided into the areas of Ethics, Environment and Economics.

“We are proud to work with Ferrero - a company which is serious about driving positive change in its supply chain using a sustainability strategy which is action orientated and informed and shaped by the latest science and evidence,” says Øistein Thorsen, CEO at FAI Farms.

A pilot programme to collect practical data

 At Ferrero, we have further developed the Ferrero Farming Values Program for milk, initiating our “Vision Dairy” program. In the current pilot phase, the project focuses to drive sustainability and continuous improvement in three main areas:

• Cow welfare
• Farm performance
• Environmental stewardship

Furthermore, a partnership with a group of milk suppliers on the ground, along with the science-backed information provided by FAIS, will ensure that we can accurately assess current sustainability performance and needs. 

Building on the data from this pilot phase and the latest insights provided by FAI Farms, Ferrero will be able to finalise its dairy sustainability roadmap.