Danone launches global Milk Academy to future-proof dairy supply chain

FRANCE – 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 in the dairy industry, designed to develop the supply chain and enhance the skills of its network of farmers.

It noted that through the Milk Academy, it is accelerating the transformation of dairy farming together — making it future-fit, resilient, and ready to meet the needs of customers and consumers.

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, targeting smallholder farmers.

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, said: “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.“

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