Danone Launches Global Dairy Farmer Academy to Enhance Sustainability

Danone has announced the establishment of the Danone Milk Academy, a comprehensive program designed to support the global dairy farming sector's sustainability and resilience. Unveiled on October 30, 2025, the initiative is described as an 'industry-first' multi-year program to aid both Danone's dairy farmer partners and farm management teams.

The academy will operate through three Centers of Excellence, each tailored to different farming models and sizes. The first center, launched in Ohio, USA, serves as a hub for 60 dairy partners from nine countries, collaborating with academic partner Cornell University and several technical partners, including Lely and MSD Animal Health.

A second center is scheduled to open in Belgium later in 2025, focusing on mid-sized farms, in partnership with Wageningen University. A third center in Morocco is planned for early 2026, dedicated to smallholder farmers. The program includes face-to-face learning and a digital platform to facilitate global farmer connectivity and training.

Participants in the academy will receive accredited training from Wageningen University & Research and Cornell University, covering farm management, sustainability, soil health, and regenerative agriculture, among other topics. The program also aims to help farmers reduce methane emissions and improve core business skills such as risk management.

Vikram Agarwal, Danone's chief operations officer, emphasized the changing needs of modern farmers and Danone's commitment to providing access to tools and knowledge that enhance business agility and bolster the dairy supply chain.