McDonald’s named Darigold in its 2012 Best of Sustainable Supply report. The winners are companies that implement innovative and effective ways to address challenges to improve food sources, the environment, communities and employee wellness across the world. Darigold was one of 51 recipients of the global honor, out of 400 entries.
A panel of McDonald’s executives and external experts, including BSR, Conservation International, Food Animal Initiative (FAI) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) selected the final 2012 Best of Sustainable Supply winners. The winners were selected based on either measurable results or innovation.
Darigold was recognized for its on-farm animal well-being survey, which represents a standard for comprehensive assessment within the dairy industry and measures on-farm animal husbandry practices of cooperative members against industry best practices.
The report also provides an understanding of where future on-farm improvements can be made, as well as a means for disseminating standard operating procedures and training for farm employees.
Darigold President and CEO Jim Wegner said, “The adoption of our animal well-being survey is providing verifiable documentation that our dairymen do practice excellent animal husbandry.”
Click here to read McDonald's case study of Darigold's animal well-being survey.
The survey had its start three years ago, when the Northwest Dairy Association (NDA), which owns Darigold, began collecting tangible information about the animal husbandry practices performed on its member dairy farms.
One tool was this web-based survey, which allows producers to more effectively identify, communicate and implement dairy farm improvements. To date, more than 40 percent of the NDA’s member farms, representing approximately 60 percent of the total NDA milk supply, have been surveyed. PD
—From Darigold news release
