A recent workshop under the BEATLES project gathered key stakeholders in South Bavaria, Germany, to advance fair business models and climate-smart agricultural practices in organic dairy farming. Held near Lake Chiemsee, the event focused on sustainability assessments and validation of innovative business models, including consumer-driven pricing and data coopetition.
Participants — including farmers, advisors, processors, and government agency representatives — visited a Naturland-certified organic dairy farm utilizing robotic milking and sustainable feed practices. A major topic of debate was the limitations of current CO₂ footprint calculators, which are biased toward conventional farming and fail to reflect grassland benefits typical of the region’s dairy systems.
Stakeholders voiced concerns about policy gaps, consumer awareness, and financial viability. Prototypes like climate-linked pay-for-success schemes and bio-district initiatives were reviewed, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, transparency, and local political support.
The group also validated a framework for fair business practices, balancing environmental, economic, and social sustainability indicators. Survey results showed differing priorities: farmers prioritized profitability, while advisors leaned toward environmental goals.
As planning begins for the 2026 wrap-up workshop, participants proposed focusing on the climate benefits of regional and grassland-based dairy farming, aiming to better inform consumers and initiate local projects.
