Nestlé has announced its support for the Net Zero Initiative, a new industry-wide effort that will help US dairy farms of all sizes and geographies implement new technologies and adopt economically viable practices. The initiative is a critical component of US dairy’s environmental stewardship goals endorsed by dairy industry leaders and farmers, to achieve carbon neutrality, optimized water usage and improved water quality by 2050.

“The U.S. dairy community has been working together to provide the world with responsibly-produced, nutritious dairy foods,” said Mike Haddad, chairman, Innovation Center for US Dairy. “With the entire dairy community at the table – from farmers and cooperatives to processors, household brands and retailers – we’re leveraging US dairy’s innovation, diversity and scale to drive continued environmental progress and create a more sustainable planet for future generations.”

The Innovation Center for US Dairy also announced a key milestone on its journey toward carbon neutrality – an up to US$ 10 million investment and multi-year partnership with Nestlé to support the Net Zero Initiative and scale access to environmental practices and resources on farms across the country.

“Supporting and enabling farmers through the Net Zero Initiative has the potential to transform the dairy industry,” said Jim Wells, chief supply chain officer for Nestlé USA. “Scaling up climate-smart agricultural initiatives is key to Nestlé’s ambition to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and will help reduce the carbon footprint of many of our brands. We are excited to collaborate with the U.S. dairy industry and our suppliers to contribute to an even more sustainable dairy supply chain.”

Nestlé is the first company joining the Net Zero Initiative, contributing funding and expertise to help propel the entire industry’s progress toward a more sustainable future. The US dairy community hopes many partners will follow.

With brands like Carnation, Nesquik, Stouffer’s and DiGiorno, Nestlé brings a wealth of knowledge and industry leadership to the table, and an earnest commitment to supporting U.S. dairy farmers in environmental advancements and technology adoption.