Yoghurt company Chobani has introduced a new program in the US to bring greater transparency to the dairy industry.
Milk Matters was designed to address the challenges faced by the industry and Chobani itself aims to be more transparent in its relationship with all dairy farms.
Chobani wants consumers to know where the dairy ingredients are coming from and the difference they are making. Milk Matters program covers six pillars including the worker’s well-being; environmental stewardship; animal care; local sourcing; investing in dairy communities and freedom and flexibility for dairy farms.
“Proud to share our vision for the future of dairy — from cows to people to planet. It’s a small step with a big message: the future of dairy farmers matters to all of us,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani.
“Dairy farms are the backbone of the communities we call home, but the current model is broken and it’s leaving consumers questioning everything, including the treatment of animals, farm workers, and the land itself. Our solution is simple but powerful. We all have a responsibility to support the farmers who make our business and our vision possible.”
The program has members from co-op partners, dairy farms and third-parties including Fair Trade USA, the World Wildlife Fund, National Milk Producers Federation, Cornell University, state programs and community foundations in Idaho and New York.
“This is a big move for one of the important sectors of agriculture in the U.S.—creating shared trust, partnership and value between consumers, farms and brands with a Fair Trade USA standard for dairy,” said Paul Rice, CEO, Fair Trade USA.
“By funding the exploration and development of a standard that will be available to the entire dairy industry, Chobani is taking a real leadership position. We’re thrilled to support an initiative that will drive continued progress, value, and transparency across the dairy industry.”
Chobani aims to help the dairy industry reduce its environmental impacts. WWF will work with Chobani and its supplying cooperatives to identify and promote better management practices that use natural resources more sustainably.
