Sustainable dairy farming is important to Woodlands Dairy, since it is on the farm where the process of milk production begins. To this end, Woodlands Dairy has implemented the Woodlands Dairy Sustainability Project (WDSP), encompassing a partnership with Trace & Save, an independent agricultural sustainability company, and the Woodlands Dairy Milk Standard.
Woodlands Dairy hosted the WDSP Environmental Stewardship Symposium at Mentors Country Estate, Jeffreys Bay on 11 August 2016. The event was attended by Woodlands Dairy producers, representatives of the Eastern Cape Department of Water and Sanitation, Stellenbosch University, the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO), representatives of the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the WWF. Keynote speakers included Sue Viljoen, who emphasised that “in terms of potential impact, water crises rank as one of the top three risks to global growth”. Dr Pieter Swanepoel from the Department of Agronomy at Stellenbosch University made a presentation on the biodiversity benefits of multispecies pasture crops. Barbara Bieldt, Manager: Market Protection and Development of the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) shared the MPO’s vision of sustainable dairy farming for everyone. Portia Phohlo of the Woodlands Dairy Sustainability Project described the effect of management practices on soil health while Craig Galloway, also of WDSP, made a presentation on how economic efficiency on dairy farms relates to sustainability indicators as used in the Trace & Save SWAN System®.
An informative farmers’ day like this one ensures that information on resources for sustainability and research results is shared, encouraging dairy farmers to farm for future generations. Press release. To read more, click HERE.
Published on Monday, 22nd August 2016 - 09:54
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