Sustainability is a word that carries a lot of weight. One of the more common associations that is connected to the term is taking care of our environment. The release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report last month (a UN panel) certainly was an eye opener for many about the severity and potentiality of climate change in our world. From changing weather patterns, to droughts, to flooding, the reach of global climate change can have a severe impact on the affordability and accessibility of food, including the production of nutrient dense products. Tackling this challenge will require a lot of teamwork in the dairy and food industries. Afterall, the health of our planet and our people isn’t a competitive advantage.
Though a large task, there is some power in taking a few incremental steps. Nelson-Jameson is proud to announce that we are the newest member of The Dairy Sustainability Alliance®, a collaborative and pre-competitive group to “support socially responsible, economically viable and environmentally sound dairy food systems that promote the current and future health and well-being of dairy consumers, communities, cows, employees, businesses, and the planet.”
The Alliance is made up of a vast array of dairy companies (including A LOT of NJ customers!), governmental, academic, industry organizations, suppliers, dairy farmers, and beyond. The Dairy Sustainability Alliance “is open to companies and organizations all along the dairy value chain who are committed to being leaders in sustainability and demonstrate their desire and ability to further the dairy community’s social responsibility goals.”
Housed through the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy (check out our article here to learn more about the Innovation Center), whose areas of focus include sustainable nutrition, the community, food safety, animal care, and environmental stewardship, the Alliance is a place to help the industry collectively take on shared priorities (like U.S. Dairy’s 2050 environmental stewardship goals), discuss new ideas and technologies, and collaborate on responsibly moving dairy forward in partnership with each other. From the cows, to the dairy farmers, to processors, and finished product producers, we all have a part to play in bringing safe, quality dairy products to the market in the most responsible way possible.
We hope to work closely with the Alliance, our customers, and our suppliers/manufacturers to critically engage in finding sustainable solutions (products, programs, services) for the food industry that will guarantee a safe food supply, great products, and less of a negative footprint on our environment. Whether it is through new product innovation or helping our customers consolidate shipments/resources, we’re excited to see what we can accomplish.
If you would like to learn more about the Innovation Center and their work, including the “Net Zero Initiative” which is creating on-farm pathways to help farmers and the dairy community meet its collective 2050 environmental goals, please click here. To learn more about The Dairy Sustainability Alliance’s (even how to become a member) please click here.
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