The new scheme supports Danone’s dairy farmer partners and its farm management teams by uniting academia, technical partners, and Danone’s expertise into a cohesive global program.
This initiative empowers farm partners to enhance their businesses, adopt sustainable practices, and utilize technology to prepare for the future of farming. Danone reinforces its commitment to the dairy sector by providing farmers access to cutting-edge scientific knowledge and technological advancements.
The Academy features three global Centres of Excellence, each designed to cater to various farming models and sizes. These centers will serve as catalysts for local training initiatives within each country.
The program combines in-person learning sessions in key dairy regions with a digital knowledge platform. This approach not only enhances training delivery but also connects farmers on a global scale. Participants will receive accredited training from esteemed institutions such as Wageningen University & Research and Cornell University.
The comprehensive curriculum addresses all facets of farm management and sustainability, including herd productivity and longevity, along with efficient manure handling. It also delves into soil health, regenerative agriculture for feed and crops, and methods to mitigate methane emissions. Furthermore, it strengthens core business capabilities like succession planning, resource allocation, and risk management.
Recently, the first global Centre of Excellence launched in Ohio, USA, gathering 60 dairy farmer partners from nine different countries. This event also featured academic partner Cornell University and technical allies such as Lely, MSD Animal Health, Worldwide Sires (Select Sires), and Zoetis.
Later this year, a second center will debut in Belgium, focusing on mid-sized farms in collaboration with Wageningen University. Additionally, a third center is slated to open in Morocco in early 2026, with a special emphasis on smallholder farmers.
This initiative will introduce a new digital learning platform, enhancing access to academic and technical expertise while facilitating best practice sharing among Danone’s dairy farming community.
Vikram Agarwal, Chief Operations Officer at Danone, stated: “What it takes to thrive as a farmer these days is changing. At Danone, we’re committed to giving our farmer community unparalleled access to the knowledge, expertise and tools that will make their businesses more agile and resilient and ultimately will strengthen the dairy supply chain.”
Agarwal further noted: “By working hand in hand with our farmer partners, academic institutions, and technical experts, we are fostering knowledge exchanges and building capabilities bridging science and practice for more impact. Through the Milk Academy, we’re accelerating the transformation of dairy farming together — making it future-fit, resilient, and ready to meet the needs of customers and consumers.”
