What are the big challenges for farmers / farms in the future?
Agriculture and society have grown further and further apart in the last few decades. The willingness to pay fair prices for food has decreased among many consumers. And the political decisions – not least due to the EU requirements – have promoted the development of “grow or give way” without regard to animal husbandry and animal welfare. This has forced many farms to give up. This development must be stopped. To do this, farmers, consumers, the media and politicians do not have to talk about one another, but rather with one another. Farmers have to invest in animal welfare, but also in CO2 sequestration measures and improvements in energy efficiency and energy generation. Retailers and consumers have to pay for the resulting added value with fair prices for food. This is the only way to ensure a long-term diet with valuable local food on site and to ensure healthy rural agriculture.
What could the farm of the future look like?
Energy self-sufficient farm that always has an eye on animal welfare and provides additional electricity to the surrounding area / neighborhood. Ultimately, a company that provides many, interdisciplinary services while keeping food production and ecological services in balance.
What do farms need to be modern and good for the environment?
On the one hand, a high standard of animal welfare must be ensured. The more CO2-friendly the feeding, the better – and grass, ideally in the form of pasture, plays an important role as basic forage. And then this includes a good energy concept, the aim of which is to implement the farm as a self-sufficient system and, if possible, also to generate energy for the surrounding area. This means, for example, using the waste heat from milk cooling for heating purposes, using roof areas to generate solar power that is used to operate e-powered machines and systems on site.
Who can take part in the Zukunftsbauer project?
All 1,800 farmers in the cooperative, regardless of whether they are large or small, whether in the mountains or in the foothills of the Alps, whether organic or conventional.
What exactly is being funded in the project?
The farmers of the Berchtesgadener Land dairy cooperative are supported in investing in energy-efficient measures, systems and technologies.
What does the funding look like?
Farmers whose submitted projects have been assessed by the specialist committee as good in terms of the sustainable development of their farm will receive up to 10,000 euros for the measures presented.
When selling products from the Berchtesgadener Land dairy, PENNY waives part of the margin and the dairy doubles the amount. All products from the Berchtesgadener Land dairy that can be bought at PENNY are part of the campaign. With their purchase, consumers make a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the joint project and to climate protection.
CO2 neutrality is a huge issue – what does that mean exactly?
The term CO2 neutrality means that no CO2 is emitted or that the CO2 emissions are fully offset. This can be achieved through “climate-positive” measures, i.e. climate protection actions and processes that permanently remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
How can CO2 neutrality be achieved at dairies / milk producers?
On the one hand, the farms emit CO2 or other climate-damaging gases such as methane or nitrous oxide. On the other hand, CO2 from the air is bound through cultivation and cultivation of the agriculturally used areas – for example in forage plants, through humus building measures and, for example, through the reforestation of forests.
Dairies cannot bind CO2 through their business operations; But if you understand the farmers and the dairy as a unit – as it is with a cooperative – then the dairy can promote CO2 binding measures among the farmers and thus have a positive influence on their CO2 account. On the other hand, the CO2 balance is also improved by the fact that the dairy promotes energy efficiency on farms – such as here with the Zukunftsbauer project.
How do you get the necessary funding?
PENNY waives part of the trading margin when selling its products and puts this amount into a funding pot, which the Berchtesgadener Land dairy then doubles.
How do you ensure that the project will be successful in the long term?
One year after the funded measures have been implemented, the projects are subjected to a renewed examination by the dairy farmers’ supervisors. Projects that have not been implemented lead to a refund of the funding.
Why do farmers now have to provide sustainability services again? We are sustainable enough as it is.
You don’t have to, this commitment to sustainability is voluntary, but it is encouraged. Sustainability is not a status quo, but a continuous improvement process. With this project, the dairy and PENNY – and ultimately the customers – support farmers in our cooperative who want to follow this path.
Why is the project being done with Penny?
The branded discounter PENNY is part of the Rewe Group, which has had branded products from Berchtesgadener Land in its range for many years. The cooperation will be further intensified with this project.
Who came up with the idea for the project?
Both – but initially separately from each other. But as it always is: when you talk to each other, people come together!
Why did Berchtesgadener Land choose Penny?
Especially in cities, the brand discounter PENNY – as part of the REWE Group – is often a local supplier. PENNY has had the Berchtesgadener Land branded products in its range for many years. This cooperation will be further intensified with this project.
In addition, Berchtesgadener Land and PENNY have a few things in common. In addition to many of the same values, the topics of regionality and sustainability are in the foreground. Together we can position ourselves even more future-oriented.
What is the funding budget for Penny and Dairy?
One assumes a funding budget in the mid 6-digit range per year.
Which products are affected?
All branded products from the Berchtesgadener Land dairy that are listed on PENNY and, in future, our PENNY own-brand product, the farmers of the future.
Who is on the expert committee?
PENNY, Berchtesgadener Land dairy, a farmer, an energy expert and another scientific expert.
According to which criteria are the registered projects selected?
The contributions to the following 5 areas are determined by each submitted project: energy saving, energy efficiency, energy recording, energy production, own electricity use. At least two measures – if possible from two of the five different energy areas – must be implemented. The projects are presented to the experts for review; there it is then jointly decided whether the criteria are met and the measures are funded.
How many ideas do you expect to be submitted?
50 to 100 per year.
Isn’t a photovoltaic system on a farm just a drop in the ocean? The cow’s carbon footprint is the problem.
If everyone who built a new roof area were to equip it with a photovoltaic system, a great deal would have been achieved in Germany. Many of our farmers are not only equipping new areas with it, but also existing areas. We think that is a good contribution to the energy transition. In addition: Today, over 1000 companies in our cooperative are driving their cows back to pasture. This promotes the build-up of humus and binds CO2 – the problem with this form of agriculture is not the cow. It is the cow that makes grass usable for human consumption by converting it into milk and meat.
Do you really need a funding pot? There are already enough funds in agriculture and also for renewable energies and e-mobility, etc.
Many consumers want to make a conscious positive contribution to the sustainable production of food through their consumption. With the project you can support sustainable decision-making processes on the farms of your preferred milk brand.
Who checks whether the money is actually flowing into the planned measures?
As a cooperative, the board of directors and the supervisory board – all of them active farmers in our cooperative – decide on financial decisions in our company and always keep an eye on the project.
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