The Innovation Center for US Dairy is a voluntary organization that works across the dairy value chain to foster collaboration and progress to build a healthy and sustainable future for the dairy community, the people it serves and the planet. Innovation Center executive vice president for Dairy Management Inc. Sarah Hanson authored this installment of Association Insights.

In 2008, America’s dairy farmers and industry leaders came together to create the Innovation Center for US Dairy, a forum to advance knowledge sharing, commitment and action within pre-competitive priorities.

The Innovation Center founders understood that our industry is stronger when we work together across the dairy value chain to gather our collective input, resources and expertise to address issues and opportunities that matter to our category, and the dairy buyers and consumers we serve.

Today, the Innovation Center is a robust pre-competitive forum that convenes hundreds of members of the dairy community, all committed to contributing to the long-term viability of the US dairy industry. The organization is led by a board of chief executives and chairs of dairy companies and associations. The farmer cooperatives and processors on the board represent about 65% of US milk production, and associations include Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), National Milk Producers Federation and the US Dairy Export Council.

Harnessing the industry’s collective insights and best practices reduces the burden on any one organization, and by aligning around shared industry-wide programs, our industry strengthens the category’s market opportunities and provides important proof points for communications and promotion efforts.

Strategic pillars

The Innovation Center’s work centers on three strategic pillars, which advance and demonstrate the important and unique value our industry and our products provide for people and the planet:

‣ Advance well-being: deliver dairy nutrition that meets emerging and personalized health needs.

‣ Regenerate the environment: Optimize dairy solutions that enhance natural resources and ecosystems.

‣ Care for our animals and communities: Ensure healthy animals, a vibrant workforce and safe, high quality dairy foods.

The Innovation Center addresses these opportunities through our operating committees and task forces that consist of dairy farmers, along with representatives from cooperatives, processors, industry organizations and other experts as needed.

Each committee brings an action-focused mindset and strong knowledge base to the table so they can build alignment on what matters most and drill deeper into solutions that benefit everyone and help us adapt to an ever-changing consumer and customer landscape. The work is further strengthened through the input and engagement with members of the US Dairy Sustainability Alliance. The committees and task forces include:

‣ US Dairy Stewardship Commitment – A voluntary platform adopted by dairy cooperatives and processors to transparently demonstrate US dairy commitments and progress in stewardship on the farm, in the field and in the processing plant.

‣ Health and well-being – Advance dairy as a modern health and wellness solution through development of science-backed messaging and claims that relate to evolving consumer needs.

‣ Environmental stewardship – Advance dairy as an environmental solution, working toward 2050 goals to achieve GHG neutrality, optimize water use and improve water quality.

‣ Animal care – Demonstrate dairy farmers’ commitment to excellent, humane and ethical animal care.

‣ Food safety – Ensure broad adoption of advanced risk mitigation practices to protect consumers and global consumer confidence in US dairy.

‣ Communications – Build awareness and support for US dairy’s social responsibility story, progress and role in global sustainable food systems.

‣ Food security – Enable increased and reliable access to nutritious dairy products for those facing hunger.

‣ GHG accounting – Create a favorable environment for dairy farmers to invest in GHG reductions on farm and ensure that US dairy can successfully demonstrate its positive impact in reducing GHG as a category.

Progress

There is so much exciting work occurring in each area and I’d like to share some examples of progress.

The US Dairy Stewardship Commitment has gained adoption from 42 companies representing more than 77% of milk production. This means they commit to using programs such as the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, which demonstrates the highest standards on US dairy farms. Aligned use of FARM as one coordinated program and strategy helps to streamline efforts across the industry. The stewardship commitment also includes a processor reporting tool so companies can track their progress against shared metrics, which are then aggregated into our biannual US Dairy Sustainability Report, transparently reporting our industry’s progress.

Engaging more than 100 industry volunteers, the food safety committee has trained more than 5,000 individuals on best practices to keep dairy foods safe. The trainings and resources cover all facets of dairy manufacturing for companies of all sizes, including web-based resources tailored for artisan cheese and ice cream makers.

The Food Security Task Force has partnered with Feeding America to build connections between dairy processors and food banks, and share best practices that support consistent, available supply of dairy products in the hunger system. More than 300 individuals participated in regional Dairy Nourishes America symposia, and the related tools and best practices are now available through an interactive online tool kit. In 2023, 406 million lbs of dairy were distributed via the Feeding America food bank network.

There’s no doubt that US dairy plays a special and valuable role in our diets and in our world. And while new issues and opportunities are continually emerging, it’s our ability to work together combined with the diverse nature and scale of US dairy — from farm through retail — that gives US dairy a unique strength in today’s global marketplace.