QIMA/WQS and Nutron/Cargill launch Nutron Bem+Leite animal welfare certification program

Certifier QIMA/WQS, in partnership with Nutron/Cargil, has launched the Nutron Bem+Leite program on the market. One of the main objectives of this partnership is to assure the market and the end consumer that the process of raising animals and producing milk has taken place in a responsible and sustainable manner. In other words, that the producing company has adopted measures to guarantee the welfare and quality of life of the animal, which are proven through a strict auditing process carried out by QIMA/WQS and based on the guidelines of PAACO (Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization).

Good practices in the dairy industry and consumer awareness

"Care begins when the cow is still pregnant," says Sérgio Soriano, Dairy Farm Manager at Fazenda Colorado. "The first contacts with humans, heating and cleaning the environment, the volume and quality of milk the calf receives in the first few months of life - all of this has an impact on the animal's development and health." The consequences of this care for the herd are reflected in the quality of the product that reaches the customer.

According to news released by Embrapa in 2019, animal welfare and the preservation of the environment are important market factors considered by a public that is increasingly aware of environmental impacts. It is also worth noting that animal welfare is one of the components listed by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) in its Sustainable Food System framework.

In this way, another objective of the Nutron Bem+Leite program partnership is to encourage more profitable and sustainable dairy farming by promoting a relationship of trust and transparency between company and consumer, demonstrated by the seal on the packaging.

The Five Freedoms Principle focuses on animal welfare

At the end of the 1970s, the British Farm Animal Welfare Committee published a document listing the main guidelines for animal welfare. Called the "Five Freedoms of Animals", the premises state that animals should be free from thirst and hunger; discomfort; pain, injury or disease; fear and distress; and should have the freedom to express their natural behavior.

In practice, the QIMA/WQS benchmark identifies to the market that welfare has been provided at all stages of the animals' lives. "The most successful farms are those whose herds live long lives. In fact, promoting health and well-being means more efficiency in the production system," explains Alexandre Pedroso, Nutron's National Technical Consultant for Dairy Cattle.

Nutron Bem+Leite certification
The assessments are carried out by auditors accredited by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO) - the North American organization responsible for training and qualifying professionals. "The animal welfare seal attests to Cargill's dedication and commitment to guaranteeing consumers a quality product. The Nutron Bem+Leite project highlights the transparency of the entire program," says Luiz Freitas, Sales Director at QIMA/WQS.

The Nutron Bem+Leite Program is available to farms and dairies throughout Brazil. Those interested must apply for the audit and pass the process, which will evaluate more than 250 evidence-based requirements. Once approved, the applicant obtains certification. 

Once certified, farms and producers can now display a seal of reference on their packaging. "When we put a seal of this level on our brand, we are showing the impact we want to have on society. It's a way of presenting the rigorous monitoring of all processes," adds Sérgio Soriano.

By means of a QR code, which is now available on product labels, it is possible to access the entire process and practices adopted to produce the food, a way of sharing credible information and, consequently, building customer loyalty.

About QIMA/WQS
QIMA/WQS was founded in 1993 under the name WQS and since 2019 has been part of the QIMA group. With headquarters in the United States (Charlotte) and offices in Brazil (Botucatu) and Mexico (Ensenada and San Luis Potosi), the company has a global presence, having carried out more than 18,000 audits for around 9,000 clients.

About Cargill in Brazil
Present in Brazil since 1965, Cargill is one of the country's largest food manufacturers.

Headquartered in São Paulo (SP), they are present in 17 Brazilian states through industrial units and offices in 147 municipalities and 11,000 employees. For more information, visit the press area.