McDonald’s and Arla partner to drive dairy farm biodiversity

McDonald’s UK and Arla Foods, the country’s largest dairy co-operative, have launched a new partnership to drive biodiversity and sustainability initiatives across around 60 organic dairy farms in the UK.

The collaboration builds on a relationship between the two companies, aiming to improve soil health, wildlife habitats, and carbon reduction across British dairy farming.

The fast food chain has joined Arla’s FarmAhead Customer Partnership programme, which brings together farmers and key customers to accelerate on-farm sustainability and reduce emissions.

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Will Tizzard, Arla and McDonald’s farmer, said: “As organic dairy farmers, we’ve seen first-hand how focusing on soil health and biodiversity strengthens our herds and our businesses.

“Partnering with McDonald’s through our FarmAhead programme and the ReNature project means we can measure what’s working and keep improving.

“It’s encouraging to have a customer investing in practical, nature-led solutions on farm – support that helps us deliver high-quality milk today while building a more resilient, sustainable future.”

State of nature

Through the partnership, McDonald’s and Arla will work together on ReNature, a biodiversity project designed to assess the state of nature on farms and identify practical ways to enhance it.

The results will be shared across Arla’s wider milk pool to promote measurable improvements.

Ellie Wotherspoon, agriculture and sustainable sourcing manager at McDonald’s UK and Ireland, said: “We are proud to support British dairy farming. Without it we wouldn’t be able to provide our customers with the delicious organic milk they enjoy in our teas, coffees and Happy Meal milk bottles.

“By joining the FarmAhead Customer Partnership, we are delighted to be building on our existing programmes with Arla and their farmer owners, and shining a spotlight on nature within the dairy industry.”

Paul Dover, UK Agricultural Director at Arla Foods UK, added: “Through our long-term relationship, McDonald’s and Arla both have a shared ambition to reduce emissions alongside championing nature and biodiversity.”

Arla and McDonald’s are also working towards science-based sustainability targets, supporting the resilience of more than 29,000 British and Irish farmers through McDonald’s Plan for Change and Farm Forward programmes.