Yili Group Presented Dairy Symbiosis Model at FAO Conference
At a session titled “RENOFARM in Action”, Yili Group vice-president Xu Ke outlined three examples from China’s dairy sector. The presentations addressed links between ecosystem recovery, animal care, farm technology and the distribution of gains among producers.
In Ar Horqin Banner in Inner Mongolia, land degradation had affected local herders. Yili introduced a grass-and-livestock system adapted to local conditions, including the planting of protein-rich, deep-rooted alfalfa. The work restored 55,000 mu of degraded grassland, equivalent to about 3,667 hectares. The regenerated area provides forage while supporting the recovery of the surrounding ecosystem.
Yili’s Chilechuan Ecological Smart Farm has applied technologies covering the full life cycle of dairy cattle. These include automated temperature management, internet-connected health monitoring and feed programmes adjusted to different stages of growth. The company said the measures are used to support animal welfare and the quality of raw milk.
The Food and Agriculture Organization has given Yili its Contribution Award for Social Responsibility several times for work involving animal welfare and precision farming. In 2026, the agency designated the Chilechuan farm a RENOFARM Farm 5Gs Pilot Champion. RENOFARM is the FAO’s ten-year global initiative, launched in 2024.
Yili and the FAO established Dairy Farmer Field Schools in 2014. The programme provides practical instruction at farms, with Yili specialists helping producers assess cattle-health risks, adjust feed rations and prepare farm-improvement plans. The company also provides financial and technical assistance under the programme.
Yili said that, over more than ten years, its work had helped 5.6m herders in Inner Mongolia raise their incomes. During the same period, the scale of dairy farming increased more than tenfold and daily milk production doubled. Yili chairman Pan Gang said, “Prosperity is not a solo, but a symphony.” The company said it would continue working with the FAO and industry partners on development in the dairy and wider agrifood sectors.
