In this issue...

There's news of major progress in the development of five more global indicators. We've also set the date for the next members' meeting and there's a reminder to join our webinar on Monday 30 January on How to Prioritise the 11 Global Criteria. Plus much more...

There's still time to register for this webinar on Monday 30 January 2017 at 19.00 GMT.

Sinead Treanor, Sustainability Coordinator, Carbery Foods and Anna-Karin Modin-Edman, Sustainability Manager, Arla Foods will be presenting with first hand experience on how they approached this.

Registration is open to all DSF members - don't miss it!

With the high level indicators for the DSF Criteria Animal Care and GHG Emissions now agreed and implemented, a baseline figure for continuous reporting must be established.

All DSF members with projects under these Criteria will now need to supply the relevant information so that the DSF Secretariat can report on the baseline figures in Spring 2017.

We will be connecting with members in the near future.

We would like to welcome Martin Hofler to the DSF Secretariat.

Martin is an Origin Green Ambassador for Bord Bia - Irish Food Board. Ambassadors spread international awareness of Origin Green, Ireland’s national sustainability programme, through sustainability placements in global food and drink organizations. On the placements, ambassadors work on sustainability projects to further the host company’s sustainability initiatives.

Martin will work with the DSF member base to increase the effectiveness of the DSF reporting process and develop case studies documenting member’s sustainability initiatives under DSF’s 11 Global Criteria. Both of Martin’s work streams are noted by the Advisory Council and the Post Implementation Review as central to demonstrating DSF's ongoing commitment to continuous improvement of the dairy value chain.

In the coming months, Martin will reach out to the DSF member base to learn more about their exciting and innovative sustainability initiatives.

With headlines such as Giant cow farms leave neighbours up milk creek appearing in the news, DSF members are seeking solutions and progressing initiatives on manure management throughout the world.

Members accessing the DSF database can find information on a wide number of projects already being undertaken on the 11 Global Criteria. You may be able to save time for you and your organization by discovering how other members have faced, and are working on, mitigation projects across the globe.

If members have any problems accessing the database, please contact info@dairysustainabilityframework.org.

Thank you to all our members who completed the Communications survey (this is now closed).

Preliminary results show a strong interest in communication channels of webinars and face-to face meetings. 

Many of our members are active members of LinkedIn and can see value in this method of networking and support to foster collaboration and contact between members.

The full results of the survey are being analysed and will be incorporated into our ongoing communications strategy. We will happily have make them available to members if they would like to see them.

Following the Governors Strategy meeting, it has been agreed that as part of their commitment all Aggregating Members will now become active members of the DSF Development Group.

The Development Group is an influential group which supports the Secretariat in ensuring the DSF strategy is developed and implemented in a manner that is applicable globally.

Implementing Members are also invited to join this group to offer insight and comment to guide the Secretariat.

If you would like to learn more, please contact us.

As previously announced, the DSF will be identifying and launching a further five Indicators in 2017; Soil, Soil Nutrients, Biodiversity, Water and Working Conditions.

The DSF has engaged Dr. Marty Matlock, professor of ecological engineering at the University of Arkansas, to work with us to develop these metrics.

The approach we have adopted for benchmarking and improving each indicator gives a strong voice to the dairy value chain, while respecting the knowledge and values of the stakeholders across society and incorporating the views of the DSF Advisory Council. We will be collaborating with the membership and stakeholders to define the indicators and how they will be measured.

This approach is outcomes based, science driven, and transparent. The DSF will be conducting a number of webinars in the coming months to provide stakeholders with opportunities to provide input to this process.

Webinar 1: Continuous Improvement Process will be held on Tuesday 21st February at 18.00 GMT. 

Please add Sunday 29th October 2017 to your diaries for a whole day of connecting, collaborating and progressing with fellow members and the Governors group with all the latest news and developments from the DSF in 2017.

Taking advantage of the fact that many of our members will be travelling to Belfast for the IDF World Dairy Summit in October, we will be holding our second members meeting there.

More details on the venue and agenda will be issued later.