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Gold Member Case Study - Carbery

Carbery, founded in 1965 as a joint venture of four West Cork Coops, remains farmer-owned. Now operating globally, it supplies natural cheeses, flavours, and nutritional ingredients to over 50 countries, using grass-fed, hormone-free Irish dairy and upholding strong values of sustainability and innovation.

Carbery recipe
Gold Member
Carbery

Sustainability Achievements

In 2024, Carbery increased supplier participation in its sustainability incentive scheme known as the Futureproof programme, surpassing its milestone target by 3%.

  • Targets Reported:
  • Exemplary Targets:
  • Awarded Gold Membership:

In 2024, Carbery advanced engagement in its supplier sustainability initiatives, exceeding key engagement targets and delivering tangible benefits across its dairy supply chain. The company reported that 88% of its supplier farms signed up in phase two of its incentive scheme, surpassing the milestone target by 3% and reflecting strong alignment with its sustainability goals.

Carbery progressed all planned initiatives under this target, with a particular focus on incentivising sustainable practices through its Futureproof Scheme. The scheme saw 88% supplier uptake, with approximately €4.70 million paid out to farmers who met criteria related to carbon reduction, water quality improvement, fertiliser management, and animal welfare. These payments supported meaningful on-farm changes and reinforced Carbery’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

Four core initiatives underpin Futureproof. The Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) provides advisory support on nutrient and water management. The adoption of protected urea helped reduce nitrogen-related emissions. Meanwhile, the Economic Breeding Index (EBI) and milk recording initiatives supported herd improvement, animal related emissions and data-driven decision-making on farms.

To further support knowledge transfer and uptake, Carbery continue to engage closely with farmer suppliers through advisory services and technical support. These efforts ensure that farmers have access to the tools and information needed to implement sustainable practices effectively and consistently.

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