Biodiversity at dairy farms
Milk production makes use of natural resources, such as arable land, water, energy, and nutrients. Preserving biodiversity in the agricultural environment and maintaining soil health are the foundation of sustainable agricultural production. At farms, the farmers and the surrounding nature benefit from efforts to preserve biodiversity.
Biodiversity refers to genetic variation within species, species richness, and the diversity of habitats. Strengthening biodiversity is an integral part of Valio’s primary production sustainability programme, and it is reflected in the Valio Milk Production Guidelines: our aim is for a farm environment that thrives and provides a habitat for as many species as possible. For example, diversified farming improves crop reliability and balances the risks posed by climate change. Valio aims to increase positive actions and to reduce and manage impacts that strain the environment.
Grazing benefits many species
Dairy farming adds diversity to the Finnish landscape, and grazing, in particular, plays a key role in this. About one third of Finland’s threatened habitats are traditional biotopes, such as meadows and wooded pastures, which were originally created specifically through the grazing of livestock. These traditional biotopes serve as critical refuges for endangered species, as nearly a quarter of Finland’s endangered species live primarily in these environments (Source: 2019 Red List of Finnish Species).
Over the past one hundred years, the number of traditional habitats in Finland has decreased by more than 99 percent. Therefore, the continuation of grazing is vital for the reservation of these remaining valuable habitats and the species that live there. Grazing also provides benefits beyond traditional biotopes, as ordinary pasturelands offer unique habitats for many bird and insect species.
Diverse grasslands and organic farming enrich nature
The fields on a dairy farm can support biodiversity in many ways. We use several methods to safeguard biodiversity:
- Multi-species grasslands: When multiple plant species are grown in the fields, the soil biota can become more diverse and soil structure can improve. Multi-species and deep-rooted grass mixtures can support carbon sequestration, retain nutrients, and enhance biodiversity.
- Source: BSAG (2025): Biodiversiteetti viljelijän apuna; Ikoyi et al. (2023): Plant diversity enhanced nematode-based soil quality indices…; Domeignoz-Horta et al. (2024): Plant diversity drives positive microbial associations…
- Organic production: As Finland’s largest processor of organic milk, Valio promotes a production method in which all animals graze and no pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used in crop cultivation. Studies show that organic farming can promote biodiversity in fields.
- No soy in cow feed: On Finnish dairy farms, cows do not eat any soy at all. The vast majority of the feed consumed by the cows comes from Finland and is grown on the farm itself or nearby.
- Finnish native cattle breeds: At Valio dairy farms, Finnish native cattle breeds, namely Eastern, Western, and Northern Finncattle, are raised alongside other livestock, helping to preserve unique genetic diversity.
We take care of nature impacts
We understand the environmental impacts of milk production, and we promote actions that minimize negative impacts on the nature, such as on the waterways and soil.
In farming, we favour a diverse crop rotation and living winter cover crops in fields (such as fall grains, catch crops, and grasslands). Winter cover crops in fields reduce erosion and the leaching of nutrients into waterways. We reduce the need for industrial fertilizers by utilizing nitrogen-fixing legumes, which also provide food for important pollinators.