MPs visit Arla plant to gain insights into dairy sector
4th March 2026
A group of MPs visited Arla’s fresh milk plant, along with a nearby farm, to gain first-hand insight into the vital role of the dairy sector and the wider supply chain.
The MPs had a chance to witness firsthand the cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices driving the future of the British dairy industry.
The visit, part of the NFU’s Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme, provided parliamentarians with a comprehensive ‘field-to-fork’ insight into how the sector is supporting food security and the rural economy.
The MPs toured the Arla Innovation Farm near Princes Risborough before heading to Arla Foods’s Aylesbury Dairy, which processes more than 1.75 billion pints of milk per year, using the latest robotics and automation.
NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins, who joined the visit, said: “It’s great to get MPs out on a farm and around a major processing facility so they have a better understanding of the importance of the dairy sector and the wider supply chain and its contribution to food production, the environment, jobs and rural communities.
“Providing valuable knowledge and information to our politicians on visits like this can go a long way in helping to create a more resilient, sustainable and profitable industry.”
Paul Dover, UK agriculture director at Arla Foods, added: “This is the second year that we have supported the NFU Parliamentary Fellowship programme by hosting a visit on the farm and to Arla Aylesbury.
“It is really valuable to showcase our role as the UK’s biggest agricultural co-operative and the commitment of our farmers and colleagues to underpin food security. We are looking forward to continuing to work with the Fellowship programme in the future.”
The Food and Farming Fellowship scheme was launched by the NFU in 2024 to showcase the farming industry and enable participating MPs to see first-hand how nutritious and affordable food gets from field to fork.
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