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Environment Investment Earns Queens Award

Yeo Valley’s commitment to organic dairy farming and investment in environmental conservation has been rewarded with a second Queen’s Award in five years.

Announced to coincide with the Queen’s 80th birthday, the award for Sustainable Development recognises the company’s continuing support for organic farming and farmers in the South West, as well as the company’s efforts to minimise its impact on the environment.

On its own Somerset farmland, this includes the planting of thousands of native trees to restore old woodland and create new wooded areas, the restoration of almost 2km of traditional Mendip Hills drystone walls, the creation of new wildlife habitats as well as the laying and restoration of traditional hedgerows.

A wide range of energy conservation, waste reduction and recycling activities have also been introduced in the Yeo Valley production dairies.

Graham Keating, Yeo Valley’s Communications director commented. “Winning one award, in 2001, was an honour that we took great pride in, but being selected for a 2nd is more than we ever expected".

“When we began making organic yogurts there were just a handful of farms supplying us. We quickly realised that if we were to develop we needed to have a growing number, so we set a new pattern in the dairy business by offering long-term contracts for organic milk".

"These not only gave farmers a guarantee that there would be a market for their milk, they were also calculated to earn them a fair price. This approach has meant that even though the costs of organic farming are higher than conventional, our agreements ensure the 80 organic farmers supplying us today have a sustainable future. Yeo Valley has played an important part in the development of the UK organic dairy farming scene, working closely with a cooperative of farmers, the Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative.”

Tim Mead, the company’s managing director added: “We are committed to the best standards of animal welfare and the maintenance of the environment. We have invested substantially in the restoration of our own Somerset farmland to help ensure it retains its traditional landscape and we are now planting and building for the future with projects to create havens for wild animals and bird life."

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