Sustainability work is being done at dairy farms
We pay the majority of operating profits to the owner-cooperatives in the form of a milk producer price. In addition, dairy farmers are paid a sustainability bonus. The sustainability bonus is compensation for dairy farm-level actions that go beyond statutory requirements to improve animal welfare, mitigate climate change, and support biodiversity.
Valio’s primary production sustainability programme includes mandatory sustainability actions for all Valio dairy farms, as well as voluntary actions from which farms can choose the most suitable ones each year. Through the sustainability programme, we are building a sustainable future for milk production – both for the environment and for dairy farmers.
Voluntary sustainability actions
Voluntary sustainability actions include:
- More than 10 grazing and outdoor exercise actions
- Reducing emissions through regenerative farming, renewable energy, and biogas
- Actions supporting biodiversity through traditional biotopes, natural pastures, wetlands, and native Finncattle breeds
The primary production sustainability programme has an impact equivalent to approximately 60 million euros. In 2025, the average sustainability bonus paid to Valio farms was more than 18,000 euros. The sustainability work carried out on Valio dairy farms has a major impact on the sustainability of milk production throughout the country, as some 80% of Finland’s milk is produced at Valio dairy farms.
Continuous development of the sustainability programme
Valio started paying a sustainability bonus to farms in 2018. In the first year, the maximum sustainability bonus was 2 cents per litre of milk. At that time, the actions eligible for compensation were related to improving animal welfare. After 2023, Valio expanded its primary production sustainability programme to include climate and biodiversity actions. Since 2025, the maximum sustainability bonus has been 4 cents per litre of milk.
The primary production sustainability programme, which defines the sustainability bonus, is continuously being developed. New voluntary actions based on the latest research are added to the programme. For example, for the 2026-2027 period, the planning of natural grazing and the grazing of calves have been added as new voluntary actions.