Daioni Organic Farm Production Process

Definition of Organic

Producing organic products is a holistic system designed to enhance the productivity and efficiency of the diverse ecological communities in agriculture, including soil, crops, animals and people. The aim of organic production is to develop sustainable, environmentally friendly enterprises.

• Organic means being nature-friendly, with no use of herbicides or synthetic chemicals.
• Organic means very high standards of animal welfare, keeping animals healthy and happy. Organic animals are treated humanely and are not given chemical drugs or antibiotics.
• Organic means being kind to the natural environment. No other farming system performs better at reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions or protecting natural resources such as water and soil.
• Organic means reducing environmental pollution and maintaining long-term fertility by optimising biological activity and preserving ecological diversity. That is why Daioni farms are a haven for wildlife, bees and butterflies – there are up to 50% more wild species on organic fields than on conventional ones (additional explanation: at the Daioni farm there are many grass paddocks; because the cows must be completely free-range on pasture, the land is divided into many paddocks. When the cows graze one paddock, grass is sown on another. After they finish grazing in one area, the cows are moved to a different paddock and the previous one is reseeded. Between these paddocks and along the hedgerows there are many birds and wild animals taking shelter. Daioni does not cut these hedges but lets them grow larger and denser so they become a refuge for many kinds of wildlife).

Conversion period

The first years of organic production are the most challenging. Organic standards require that land must be managed and farmed using organic methods for 24–36 months before it can be certified as organic pasture. This is called the conversion period, when both the land and the farmers must adapt to a new system. Insects and weeds also begin to adjust during this time. Daioni’s organic farm took 24 months (from 1999 to 2001) to convert from a family farm to an organic farm.

Organic farming

Organic farming promotes crop rotation, the use of natural crop varieties, and the protection and improvement of soil resources, while encouraging a balance in predator–prey relationships. Organic residues and nutrients produced on the farm are recycled back into the soil. Soil-improving crops and organic fertilisers are used to maintain organic matter and the soil’s nutrient-supplying capacity. Preventive pest and disease control measures are applied, including crop rotation and improved resistance. Integrated pest management, weed management and soil protection systems are key methods used on organic fields.

At Daioni’s organic farm, we practise crop rotation and grow clover (a natural plant that can fix nitrogen) to protect the grass from pests. All of our fields are completely free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Daioni cows are free to graze and roam on vast grassland. Grass-fed cows provide a sweeter, more delicious milk than grain-fed cows. As a result, our milk has a more naturally sweet taste than conventional milk, which usually comes from grain-fed cows.

Organic certification

The Soil Association is the largest organic certification organisation in the United Kingdom, responsible for certifying more than 70% of the organic products on the UK market. The organisation works with 3,500 organic farms and businesses around the world.

The Soil Association inspects Daioni’s organic farm and issues an annual certificate. Daioni organic milk consistently exceeds the organisation’s standards. Daioni organic milk has far stricter standards than the minimum organic food standards of the European Union and has regulations that cover every stage of the organic production process. Each Daioni organic cow has its own “passport” to make monitoring and inspection easier.

In addition to very strict organic standards, Daioni’s pastures are extremely nutrient-rich, which means the milk from Daioni’s grass-fed organic cows is always of the highest quality, delicious and trustworthy.

Daioni organic farm

Daioni organic milk is a brand certified organic by The Soil Association. It is a family-run business in the Ffosyficer farming area in the far west of the United Kingdom. The company was founded by Laurence Harris, who has been farming for 40 years. Laurence took over a 150-acre farm from his father in 1970 and expanded it to 3,000 acres. Today, we have nearly 1,000 organic cows. We supply fresh milk and cream throughout the UK and began expanding into the Middle Eastern and Chinese markets in 2008. Daioni products are made 100% from organic milk sourced from Laurence’s own fields (not from milk purchased from groups of smallholder farmers, as many other dairy companies do). Laurence’s organic farm is certified organic by The Soil Association; these fields ensure a stable source of organic milk for consumers wherever Daioni is present and trusted. The Soil Association is one of the largest organic certification bodies in the UK and is supervised by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.