If you have seen painted cows parading through the city streets, you were not dreaming! The milk producers of the Bio-Bauere-Genossenschaft Lëtzebuerg (BioG) launched a campaign to raise awareness of the social benefits of the organic dairy industry by marching through the streets of the city on 21 April with their cows, the “Bio-Divas”.
Organic cows and climate
Discussions about climate change are more topical and present than ever. Cows are regularly in the sights of climate activists for various reasons. One of these is the accusation that it pollutes the climate because of the high methane emissions it produces during the digestion process. This is not the case in organic farming. Here, the cow contributes more than just CO2 compensation through species-appropriate breeding, sustainable pasture management and the use of its manure to preserve biodiversity.
In order to draw attention to this fact and to seek direct dialogue with the Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development, Claude Haagen, the organic farmers of the Bio- Bauere-Genossenschaft Lëtzebuerg (BioG) and representatives of the Oikopolis Group embarked on an awareness-raising action by organising a joint march through the city of Luxembourg from the Glacis to the Ministry. To accompany them, twelve brightly painted organic cows, the “Bio-Divas”.
The aim of the BioG farmers and the entire group of companies is to gain sufficient recognition and thus financial support from the competent ministry so that organic farming can provide its services for the common good on an even larger scale.
The organic cow as the « diva » of organic farming
The organic cow is not only a producer of milk and meat, but can also be part of the solution to many crises. However, it is necessary to look at the bigger picture, i.e. to consider relationships and processes. In organic farming, where the cow plays a decisive role in the cycle of the farm organism, the cow has the greatest effect on sustainability.
For BioG farmers, the cow is therefore a true « organic diva » :
- The cow is able to transform grass into food.
- It produces natural fertilisers and thus promotes soil life and fertility.
- It has been proven that cows improve the biodiversity of plants and grasses.
- Grazing not only increases the diversity of plants and grasses, but also the diversity and number of organisms living in the soil.
- As a direct consequence, the number and diversity of insects increases, which in turn is related to birdlife.
- Biodiversity of flora enables diversity of fauna.
- Insects (bees) are in turn essential for the fertilisation and diversity of flora.
For more information: bio-diva.lu
