The scheme, which supports both Danone’s dairy farmer partners and its farm management teams, brings academia, technical partners’ and Danone’s expertise together in one unified global program.
The company said it will help farm partners in strengthening their businesses, adopting more sustainable practices, and leveraging technology to prepare for the next generation of farming. Danone said the scheme is a strengthening its commitment to the dairy sector, providing farmers with access to the latest scientific knowledge and technological advances.
The Academy has three global Centres of Excellence, each one tailored to different farming models and sizes, which will act as a catalyst for local trainings organised by each country.
The programme combines face-to-face learning sessions in key dairy regions alongside a digital knowledge platform to deliver additional training and connect farmers globally. Participants will receive accredited training from Wageningen University & Research and Cornell University.
The curriculum covers all aspects of farm management and sustainability, including herd productivity and longevity, and the efficient handling of manure. It also covers soil health and regenerative agriculture for feed and crops, explores ways to reduce methane emissions and strengthens core business capabilities such as succession planning, resource allocation and risk management.
The first global Centre of Excellence was launched in Ohio, USA this week, bringing together 60 dairy farmer partners from nine countries, as well as academic partner Cornell University and technical partners Lely, MSD Animal Health, Worldwide Sires (Select Sires) and Zoetis.
A second centre will open in Belgium later this year, focusing on mid-sized farms, in partnership with Wageningen University. This will be followed by a third centre in Morocco in early 2026, dedicated to smallholder farmers.
The initiative will also bring a new digital learning platform, expanding access to academic and technical expertise and best practice sharing across Danone’s dairy farming community.
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."
Agarwal added: “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."