A diverse group of partners came together this afternoon at Endres Berryridge Farm in Waunakee, Wisconsin for the official launch of the Dairy Strong Sustainability Alliance (DSSA), a collaborative sustainability campaign featuring representatives from every facet of the dairy community, including farmers, processors, retailers, government agencies, universities, and dairy and trade non-profits.

The alliance seeks to engage individuals from across the dairy industry together in a holistic, collaborative effort to position Wisconsin and the Midwest as a global leader in dairy sustainability and to improve the sustainability of the dairy supply chain.

DSSA will deploy through two teams: Milkshed and Farm Enterprise. The Milkshed team includes all members of the dairy supply chain within a watershed or specific area, including farms, service providers, processors, and transportation and logistics companies. The Farm Enterprise Team will consist of individual farming enterprises seeking to partner with DSSA in an effort to enhance their successes and improve their sustainability efforts.

The campaign kicked off today in conjunction with the Yahara Pride Field Day through a panel discussion of DSSA collaborators.

Speakers included:

Tim Trotter, Executive Director, Dairy Business Association
Steve Richter, Director of Conservation Programs, The Nature Conservancy Wisconsin Field Office
Jeff Endres, Chair, Yahara Pride Farms, Inc.
Karen Scanlon, Vice President, Sustainability, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy
John Umhoefer, Executive Director, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association
Steve Peterson, SLP, LLC, Formerly of General Mills

Listen to the full announcement here:
Dairy Strong Sustainability Alliance Presser