Dairy farmer and Olympian swap lives in new sustainable yogurt campaign
A dairy farmer from Co. Tipperary has switched roles with an Olympic sprinter as part of new campaign to promote how sustainable yogurt can fuel an active lifestyle.
Katie Gleeson from Templemore, Co. Tipperary, ambassador for the National Dairy Council, welcomed athlete Sophie Becker to her farm for the European Milk Forum's ‘Yogurt, Its Great Inside’ campaign.
Gleeson then followed Becker to the Sport Ireland Institute in Dublin where the athlete trains.
The visits allowed the two women see the yogurt production process through opposite lenses and experience what its like to be at the other end.
The campaign
The three-year European Union-funded initiative, led by the European Milk Forum, is in collaboration with dairy organisations across Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and France as well as Ireland.
It aims to increase awareness around sustainable dairy farming; the effect it has on producing good quality yogurt; and the advantages it has on a healthy diet.
‘Yogurt, Its great inside’ recognises that "sustainability is not a fixed destination", but a process driven by everyday actions, the organisers said.
From farm to finish line
Visiting the farm allowed Becker to experience how Gleeson's work has an impact on the sustainability of yogurt production, from the dairy farmer's approach to animal care; land management; resource use; and environmental action.
The visit demonstrated how Gleeson is "constantly learning and adapting to challenges, as well as making improvements over time".
The two women then went to Sport Ireland Institute where Becker showed the other side of the story, the role good nutrients play in the upkeep of an active lifestyle.
These visits demonstrate the yogurt's journey from a dairy farm to how it impacts its importance on nutritious food choices.
When speaking about the experience, Gleeson said: “Farming is always evolving.
"We are continually learning, adapting, and building on the progress already made so that we can produce quality milk while making our farms more sustainable and resilient for the next generation.
“Visiting Sophie’s training environment brought the connection to life for me. It was rewarding to see how the milk produced on farms like mine becomes nutritious foods such as yogurt.”
Becker explained how visiting Gleeson's farm gave her the opportunity to learn more about yogurt and where it comes from.
The Olympian said: “I already understood yogurt’s nutritional benefits, but I wanted to learn more about the sustainability journey taking place on Irish dairy farms.”
The campaign will roll out in Ireland across digital and social platforms and will follow Gleeson and Becker as they trace the yogurt's journey.
