Lakeland Dairies Launches Campaign to Empower Women in Co-op Shareholding and Farming Governance

Lakeland Dairies has developed an innovative campaign inviting women to get more actively involved in co-op ownership in an effort to elevate the voices of women farmers and promote more diversity within the co-operative movement. The programme aims to highlight the enormous but sometimes underappreciated contributions made by women in farm companies, even though only 12% of herd owners in the nation are now female.

Niall Matthews, Chairman of Lakeland Dairies, spoke at the launch event during the Virginia Show in Co. Cavan and emphasised the campaign's potential for transformation. He emphasised the need to include voices from a variety of backgrounds in order to foster creativity and initiatives inside the cooperative as a result of the changing agricultural scene, which presents new possibilities and ideas.

"The cooperative movement's history has reached a turning point with this. Agriculture is undergoing a wave of change that is creating new opportunities. I genuinely feel that having a varied range of opinions inside our cooperative is essential for fostering forward-thinking concepts and tactics," Matthews said. He emphasised that actively engaging as a shareholder in local co-ops gives people the authority to control the course of their enterprises.

Lakeland Dairies, known for its cutting-edge, environmentally friendly, and superior food production, is committed to helping rural communities and farm families. The campaign aims to increase the diversity of its stakeholder base in order to maintain this commitment in the long run.

Matthews expressed confidence in the program's acceptance, pointing out the Virginia Show visitors' keen enthusiasm. In the upcoming weeks and months, the campaign will be gradually implemented throughout Lakeland Dairies' membership base. For individuals who are interested in the procedure, the cooperative is providing thorough information, including instructions on joint shareholding and shared ownership of milk accounts.

As a result of taking note of the importance of this campaign, Lakeland Dairies has made concrete efforts to encourage women to become shareholders. The cooperative has contacted every present shareholder and encouraged combined ownership of shares by family members. This change attempts to increase the involvement of young farmers, families, spouses, and partners in the co-operative's governing structures. Lakeland Dairies is dedicated to enhancing the vibrancy and prosperity of the co-op as a whole by lobbying for joint ownership among women and family members.

The agriculture industry is watching with interest as Lakeland Dairies leads this initiative, seeing the cooperative movement's potential to bring about transformational change. The initiative aims to increase the representation of women while also leveraging the many viewpoints that will lead the cooperative towards a successful and forward-thinking future.