The Centre of Expertise for Natural Livestock farming has special experience with promoting Natural Dairy Farming, and ways to reduce the use of antibiotics and other chemical products in dairy farming – especially through the E-Motive exchange program.

In some cases, like for example India, this is done by promoting the organic dairy farming chain. In other cases, like the Netherlands, it is done by promoting more natural ways of farming in both conventional and organic (dairy) farming.

The Netherlands and India are known for their impressive dairy production. The Netherlands started in the 1950’s and India in the 1980’s of the last century. For dairy farming in other regions, it is important to know what was achieved in the process. What were the side effects of this success? And what have we learned in this process of intensification and scale enlargement that is relevant for other countries?

The histories of Dutch and Indian (dairy) farming clearly show that it would be wise for each country to develop its own dairy development strategy – starting with its own resources and local circumstances – rather than simply copying the dairy system from these countries.

Together with the partners in India and the Netherlands – and in collaboration with Solidaridad – the Trust Dairy project is being developed to strengthen organic dairy farming with approximately 4 million smallholder farmers. Funding is being sought through the dairy coopertaives, Solidaridad and the Dutch government.

This is organized together with in two major dairy companies in southern India, Karnataka Milk federation (KMF) and Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (MILMA). The project includes:

Training farmers and veterinairs on use of medicinal plants
Monitoring animal busbandry practices using Wheel of Animal production & Wellbeing
Milk quality control adapted to smallholder situation
Special organic dairy chain development – for premium milk price