In December 2019, the European Commission published a communication about the European Green Deal. The goal of this instrument is to bring about a transition towards a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy.

The situation in the Lithuanian milk sector has turned critical overnight. Over the past nine months, the price of raw milk has rapidly declined. Concurrently, the number of dairy farmers, as well as the overall number of dairy cows, is decreasing as well. Between the first quarter of 2022 and 2023, the number of dairy cows dropped by over 4000 cows, which is a 2% decrease. Unsurprisingly, milk production has also decreased, by 3,6% over the same period.

Mass retail has totally disrupted the dairy market, which was already on knife’s edge, by buying out multiple processing companies.

In Switzerland, the Faireswiss range of products finds it difficult to make its way into mass retail. That is why the cooperative has decided to reduce its communication budget and to concentrate on customer canvassing. To this aim, the Faireswiss board has decided to employ someone part-time to canvas food stores, restaurants and other facilities that prepare a large number of meals like residences for persons with disabilities, schools, hospitals etc.

Forty-eight dairy farmers in Luxembourg came together in 2011 to found Fairkoperativ (FKL) and to create their own brand called D’fair Mëllech. The regular (inadequate) milk price is topped up to reach a fair milk price that would allow dairy farmers to make a decent living.

The figures speak for themselves: 1,400 exhibitors from 60 countries and about 300,000 visitors – that was the International Green Week 2023 in Berlin. Die faire Milch was also back with a stand in the North Rhine-Westphalia Hall. The network held together through the Covid-19 pandemic and kept in touch regularly. That is why we were looking forward to seeing each other and it was a joy to finally be back together in Berlin.

Since 2013, the FaireFrance brand has been selling dairy products at a fair price that permits producers to live off their work. A holistic concept that makes it possible to preserve family farms, cultural landscapes and local know-how. The brand celebrates its ten-year anniversary this year, with the support of French consumers that translates in strong sales growth.

Something that should be commonplace in the dairy market has in fact become a rare sensation: for a few years now, Fair Milk has made it possible for farmers to earn a decent living. This brand founded in 2006 in Austria now puts socially sustainable products on supermarket shelves for consumers. At the Fair Milk Conference held in France, FaireFrance was joined by other Fair Milk projects and the European Milk Board asbl (EMB) to celebrate the progress of this important brand founded by farmers.

Since the EMB was founded fifteen years ago, we have been struggling – sometimes more, sometimes less successfully – to generate a revenue that would allow us and our families a decent life. 2022 was a better year – despite the fact that our production costs sky-rocketed. In Belgium, we had farm-gate prices of almost 60 cents per litre. Why is it then that over four months, this price paid to producers has fallen by 30% and is now at 36 cents per litre? While it is true that our price is closely linked to butter and milk powder exports, they have reduced by only 10% (4,564 euros/t for butter, 3,375 euros/t for milk powder). Something doesn’t add up.