Danone launches global Milk Academy to future-proof dairy supply chain
Key takeaways
- Danone’s new Milk Academy program and Centers of Excellence aim to upskill farmers in sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and modern farm management.
- Partnering with institutions such as Cornell University and Wageningen University, the initiative bridges the gap between science and practice to strengthen dairy supply chains.
- The initiative aligns with Danone’s methane reduction and regenerative agriculture goals under its “Impact Journey” strategy.
Danone has launched a program that enhances the skills of dairy farmers worldwide and strengthens the resilience of the dairy farming industry. The program, dubbed the Milk Academy, targets training in farm management, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture, teaching farmers techniques to improve herd productivity and soil health, and investigating ways to reduce methane emissions.
According to the French multinational food products corporation, the Milk Academy is the first of its kind within the dairy industry, geared toward developing the supply chain and enhancing the skills of its network of farmers.
Danone will also work with farmers to improve cow health and well-being, and support the environment.
Farmer training and sustainability skills
Farmers from key dairy regions will be brought together at the centers for in-person training. They will be supported by a new digital platform to extend training and upskilling opportunities.
Farms of all sizes will be equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to “adapt and thrive as modern, resilient businesses,” says Danone. The project marks the opening of the first of three Centers of Excellence in Ohio, US, earlier this week.
The center facilitates 60 dairy farmer partners from nine countries, and academic partner Cornell University. Technical partners, including Lely, MSD Animal Health, Worldwide Sires (Select Sires), and Zoetis, are also part of the initiative.
Another Center of Excellence will open in Belgium later this year in partnership with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), followed by a third center in Morocco in early 2026, which will target smallholder farmers.
Boosting the global dairy ecosystem
The initiative is part of Danone’s “Impact Journey,” a sustainability roadmap, structured around three pillars: Health, Nature, and People & Communities, with the mission of “bringing health through food.”
The academy can be seen not just as a training initiative, but also as a strategic node in Danone’s supply chain transformation.
Vikram Agarwal, chief operations officer at Danone, says: “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.”
“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.”
The company also published its “Dairy methane action plan” earlier this year, which aims to cut methane emissions from its fresh milk supply by 30% by 2030, against a 2020 baseline.
“We look forward to contributing our scientific knowledge and expertise to this Danone program and the wider transition toward climate- and nature-positive dairy. This aligns strongly with WUR’s ambition to create real impact in practice. It’s about ensuring that our knowledge reaches those who need it most, in various continents,” adds Geurt Heimensen, manager at the Wageningen Academy.
