At 7.00 pm on Thursday 26th February Robert Craig, Trustee and Chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, will be talking at the Quaker Meeting House about how, working with the award winning Nestlé-First Milk Partnership, he is transitioning towards regenerative farming practices, and in the process improving the resilience of his business and his long-term supply security.
Robert and his wife Jackie oversee the management of three large pasture-based dairy units in the Eden Valley and the Tyne Valley in Northumberland. Over the past forty years, the family business has changed and grown substantially, from a small conventionally managed mixed farm with 50 cows and 300 sheep to its current size, milking 1500 spring calving cows. All nine million litres of the milk from the three farms are supplied to First Milk, a farmer-owned cooperative, with two of the three farms on a Nestlé supply contract through First Milk.
Robert has worked closely with Nestlé for many years, helping develop the Nestlé Milk Plan, which incentivises those First Milk members supplying Nestlé to farm regeneratively. During his talk, Robert will outline how the Milk Plan works, how it has evolved over the past 21 years, and how the partnership between First Milk and Nestlé is managed.
Robert is a vocal advocate for regenerative farming and carbon reduction and, over the years, has collaborated with industry leaders and academic institutions to drive change across the UK dairy sector. His work with organisations like First Milk and Nestlé has helped shape practical strategies for net-zero farming and biodiversity enhancement.
Robert regularly speaks at national conferences and policy forums, offering insights into the realities of modern dairy farming and the systemic shifts needed to secure its future. His passion lies in building bridges – between farmers, consumers, and policymakers – to create a more transparent, sustainable food system.
Key to the successful relationship between Nestlé and First Milk is a shared vision of long-term sustainability. The Milk Plan was developed jointly between Nestlé, First Milk and its members. It sets measurable targets for enhancing biodiversity, for animal welfare, for carbon emissions reduction, and for community engagement. These Robert will explain in his talk.
The targets, which are tailored to individual businesses, are reviewed annually and are progressively funded over a five-year period, which significantly reduces the risk to the farmer. As part of the Plan, First Milk members receive a milk price bonus for achieving their targets.
As a result of all their work, many First Milk members are making significant changes to how the run their farms. Robert says, ‘The transition to more regenerative principles can be both technically challenging and financially risky, so to assist its members First Milk delivers workshops to all its farmers, not just those in the Nestlé pool, to help them take the steps towards becoming more regenerative.’
There are many reasons why the partnership has worked. Its ambition is long-term, so both buyer and producer feel secure. It is well-funded: Nestlé buys more milk globally than any other multinational food group so has financial heft. And it is a true partnership which over the years has generated a high level of mutual respect and trust. Furthermore, the Milk Plan’s regenerative interventions align, to a certain degree, with government environmental schemes.
Speaking for Sustainable Keswick, Joe Human said, ‘How lucky we are to have Robert talk to us. Having known him for 16 years, I have a very high regard for what he and Jackie are doing and for their inspiration to others.’
Tickets at the door, £5.00 in cash (please) to help cover costs.
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