This program marks a new step towards sustainable dairy farming. Currently, 80 dairy farmers have joined this initiative, receiving active support to reduce their footprint. In 2025, the number of participants will double to 150.
The Dutch dairy industry is globally renowned for its innovation and high-quality products. With a production value of over 27 billion euros and a gross added value of 8.3 billion euros (2023), this sector plays a key role in the Dutch economy and employment. Simultaneously, the sector is working hard on sustainability to reduce its ecological footprint, in line with the goals of the Climate Agreement. Programs like the Tomorrow’s Dairy demonstrate how collaboration across the supply chain can lead to significant improvements.
Sustainable impact with concrete measures
The Tomorrow’s Dairy program by Nestlé and VDF emerged from the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the dairy farming sector and contribute to a more sustainable future. The programme achieved this by helping farmers reduce their farm’s footprint and by working together on better soil health, water management, and biodiversity. This should lead not only to a substantial reduction in the ecological footprint but also to a sustainable business model.
Since the program’s launch in 2022, a 15% reduction in CO2-eq emissions has been achieved through collaborative efforts. This has been accomplished through feed optimization and maximization, reduced use of artificial fertilizers, planting grass clover, and using renewable diesel. This combination of measures significantly reduces the ecological footprint of dairy farming. Theun Vellinga, researcher at knowledge partner Wageningen University & Research, presented these results today at a small-scale stakeholder meeting, emphasizing the success of the approach. The ambition of the Tomorrow’s Dairy program is to achieve a 50% CO₂-eq reduction by 2030 compared to 2018 – an ambition that seems within reach given the results so far and the use of feed additives like Bovaer®. Winning the Dutch Logistics Award 2024 is an additional motivation to continue this unique and already successful chain collaboration.
Program with practical focus
The updated Tomorrow’s Dairy program has been redesigned to better align with the needs and feedback of dairy farmers. The relaunch introduces several key changes:
- Faster scaling: in 2025, the number of dairy farmers will grow by approximately 70 participants, reaching a total of 150. The ultimate goal is to include over 200 participants in the program;
- Performance rewards: dairy farmers will now be rewarded based on achieved CO₂-eq reductions; every gram of reduction is rewarded (starting from 1,050 grams CO2 eq/kg milk);
- Simple point system: unlike similar programs, dairy farmers can score individually on each KPI and be rewarded on various KPIs.
Towards the food supply of the future
The updated program places more emphasis on appreciation, rewarding, and stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation. The ambition is to eventually help over 200 dairy farmers with knowledge and financial resources to make their operations more sustainable. Starting with an individual farm plan, tailored advice is provided on how they can make their farm future-proof by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While the program has been adjusted, intensive personal guidance and training of participants by agricultural advisors remain at the core of the program.
“We see that this is indeed possible and has a significant impact: one can have a plan - but putting it into practice, is what really matters. With trial and error, we continue to learn, and that is exactly what we hoped to discover. Practical application of our plan has enabled us to measure the real feasibility of our efforts. By collaborating with dairy farmers from various types of farms and using diverse raw materials, we learn about the effects of different measures.” says Nikki Adamo, CEO of Nestlé Netherlands.
Albert de Groot, CEO of Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods: “What we have achieved together with the dairy farmers is not only proof of what is possible but also an inspiration for the future of the sector. The 15% CO₂-eq reduction is not just a number for us; it is a sign of how we are making a difference through collaboration. It is the reward for the tremendous efforts of dairy farmers who commit to sustainability every day, and it proves that by joining forces, we can truly change the future of dairy farming. This is just the beginning; together, we are aiming for the next step.”
For more information, visit www.tomorrowsdairy.nl.
