Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Maola Local Dairies Awarded $2 Million Sustainability Grant

Jenna Beckett, Agriculture Program Director shared, “The Alliance is thrilled to continue to partner with MDVA to support their member farms and welcome an exciting new supporter, Starbucks, to the table. We have been inspired by Starbucks’ commitment to sustainability and are excited for the impact we will generate through this effort together.”  

Starbucks has selected Maola as the dairy cooperative in the region to receive funding to help advance sustainable dairy practices on member farms. The financial support by Starbucks combined with the INSR grant will allow the Alliance and Maola to continue our work in accelerating the adoption of conservation practices on member farms.  In 2022 Starbucks launched its Sustainable Dairy Program in the United States, designed to advance environmental stewardship, help enhance farmer and workforce conditions, and help ensure the quality care of animals. The program provides farmers with resources, tools and information to help ensure a more sustainable dairy industry for future generations. 

To ensure the Maola dairy farms selected for funding for conservation practices achieve maximum reductions from their farms, the Project will require that all farms receiving funds either have or will implement a riparian forest buffer planting on site. The combined private and public funding will empower these farms to advance their conservation goals, resulting in a greater regional-scale partnership and improved technical service assistance. The implemented BMPs will reduce critical sediment and nutrient loads reaching the Chesapeake Bay, increase habitat for wildlife, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure long term resilience for our agricultural lands.  

“The funding received through the INSR grant will help ease the financial and technical burden on our dairy farmers and improve the success of farms transitioning to the next generation,” said Lindsay Reames, EVP of Sustainability & External Relations at Maola. “We are thrilled to have Starbucks as a partner on this project and a dedicated supporter of sustainable dairy products. Their contribution to the sustainability of our family-owned dairy farms will heavily influence other retail customers to take similar action in their own communities.”