On 15 September 2026, BIOFIN-EU and ILSI Europe held the webinar “The Dairy Sector and the Financing of Nature Positive Actions.” The session asked a simple question: what would it take for dairy farming to benefit nature, and who should pay for it?
What “nature positive” really means
The University of Limerick, coordinator of BIOFIN-EU, set a clear test. Money is only “nature positive” if it leads to a real, measurable improvement in the state of nature. Funding something worthy is not enough. One published example showed a dairy cooperative’s “green” loan going mainly to its processing plants, while most of the sector’s emissions come from the farms themselves. New research on farmers’ sense of caring for their land suggests that financial payments and personal motivation work well together, and that farmers value having a say in how they manage their land. The lesson: this is less about measuring nature and more about designing payments well, rewarding results and working with farmers, not around them.
How companies talk about nature
A study of how companies word their sustainability reports under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (the rules requiring large companies to report on their social and environmental impact) looked at Irish reports. Few companies covered biodiversity at all, and many reports lacked detail. Common patterns included leaving out who is responsible, using cautious wording such as “can” or “could”, and passing responsibility to farms or local communities. Good reporting is valuable, but only if it is honest and not used to overstate environmental credentials.
Case study: Arla Foods
Arla Foods presented its nature strategy, built around three focus areas: climate, air and water, and land and soil. Its climate targets have been checked by the Science Based Targets initiative, an independent body that confirms targets match what climate science requires. Arla also follows a similar framework for nature. Through its FarmAhead™ programme, Arla rewards its farmer-owners for practices that help climate, water and biodiversity. Arla stressed the need for robust, science-based frameworks and is working on ways to measure and independently check nature on the farm.
Paying farmers for results: Waters of LIFE
Waters of LIFE showed how a scheme that pays farmers for environmental results, rather than for specific actions, can help protect Ireland’s cleanest rivers. Payments rise with the quality of habitat on the farm, supported by funding, training and advice. Rewarding results recognises good practice farmers already follow. But it is not enough on its own where nutrient run-off from farmland is the main problem, and it only works if farmers understand and trust it.
Take-home messages
- Real results count. Reports and green labels are not enough without measurable improvement.
- Put the money where the impact is. In dairy, that means on the farm.
- Work with farmers. Payments and a genuine sense of care for the land can reinforce each other.
- Check that the results are real. Reliable starting measurements and independent checks are essential.
- Use a mix of approaches. Paying for results works best alongside clear guidance on actions.
