Carbery's dairy, flavours and nutritional ingredients business is headquartered in Ballineen, Co. Cork, Ireland. It is owned by four Irish co-operatives, Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh and Lisavaird, and employs almost 1,000 people.

Its FutureProof sustainability scheme was launched in 2022, when a partial payment was made to suppliers, and it was fully rolled out across 2023 and 2024. More than €12.2m has been paid to farmers so far through the scheme and 93% of the milk supplied to Carbery in 2024 came from farms implementing FutureProof measures. These new measures will make a further €7.2m available in 2025.

“We are proud to see such strong participation in our FutureProof scheme, reflecting our farmers' dedication to addressing the environmental challenges we all face," said Carbery Group chairperson Vincent O’Donovan. "The initiatives implemented through this scheme empower our suppliers to reduce emissions while enhancing productivity across West Cork. With 93% of our milk supply sourced from farmers applying FutureProof measures, this initiative has proven to be an essential programme to safeguard the future of our industry."

Up until now, the Futureproof scheme has put an obligation on participating farmers to meet four sustainability criteria: milk recording, using protected urea (which reduces nitrous oxide emissions and lowers ammonia losses on grassland), water quality commitments, and breeding (EBI). The added obligation now introduced under the Futureproof scheme will cover soil fertility, with farmers being asked to meet additional measures to achieve optimal soil pH through lime application. Breeding commitments are also being updated with farmers now being advised to use beef artificial insemination sires that meet the 2026 criteria. Regarding use of protected urea, a new sliding scale will provide higher subsidies for products with greater emissions savings.

Carbery chief executive Jason Hawkins said the positive impact of the Futureproof scheme is is evident in measurable reductions in emissions and increased farm efficiency across West Cork.

Carbery said that over two years across FutureProof herds, use of protected urea and improved EBI alone have saved 5,501 metric tons of carbon dioxide - the equivalent to taking 1,196 cars off the road annually or 12,225 one-way passenger journeys from Dublin to New York. Meanwhile switching to protected urea in 2023 has cut carbon dioxide emissions by 4,700 tonnes annually. More than 1,200 ASSAP (water quality) assessments have also been completed. 

"By incorporating soil fertility as a key focus area, we aim to address the most critical factors that will further reduce emissions, improve and protect soil health and enhance water quality," said Mr Hawkins.

Carbery operates from 11 locations including Ireland, the UK, the USA, Brazil, Italy, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand and supplies more than 50 countries worldwide.