Regenerative dairy farming: change from the ground up

Good nutrition goes hand-in-hand with the best possible care for the planet. Owned by a co-operative of dairy farmers, we understand that committing to a greener future is a shared responsibility. With strong involvement across the dairy chain – from grass to glass – we have a clear view of sustainability and where we can make the biggest impact. Since most greenhouse gas emissions in the dairy sector originate at farm level, that’s where we focus our efforts.

Discover why regenerative dairy farming is a promising way to run farms – and how these practices can make a positive impact on the environment.

What is regenerative dairy farming?

Regenerative dairy farming is an age-old process that helps enhance biodiversity as well as reduce the environmental impact of conventional farming.

E Rehberger et al., What climate and environmental benefits of regenerative agriculture practices? an evidence review. Environ. Res. Commun., 5, 2023.

Based on a set of sustainable farming practices, regenerative agriculture helps to restore and enhance ecosystems – aiming to improve land use, rather than deplete it.

This holistic approach goes back to basics, focusing on soil regeneration, biodiversity, water conservation and carbon sequestration. By improving soil quality on farms, regenerative agricultural practices also improve cows’ access to more natural and nutritious food.

MJ Hargreaves-Mendez and M Hotzel, A systematic review on whether regenerative agriculture improves animal welfare: A qualitative analysis with a One Welfare perspective, Anim Welf, 25(32), 2023.

Studies show that cows grazing on more diverse pastures provide greater initial yields, without compromising milk production or quality.

Y Moreno-Gonzalez, Lactation curves for milk, fat and protein in dairy cows under regenerative versus conventional farming practices. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 68(4), 2025.

With these practices, there is huge potential to address climate change concerns, support communities and protect our planet’s precious resources, while ensuring sustainable protein ingredients. In fact, we believe that scaling regenerative agricultural practices is an essential part of the puzzle as we look to future-proofing our food system.

What farming practices are used in regenerative agriculture?

There are no official guidelines for regenerative agriculture – it is mainly defined by its outcomes, including improving soil health, air and water quality, supporting animal health and welfare, sequestering carbon and increasing biodiversity. Regenerative agriculture often involves a wide range of practices that enhance the resilience of farming systems, including:

Minimal tillage: reducing soil disturbance, cutting erosion and improving soil health.
Crop diversity: creating habitats for birds, insects and animals.
Increased proportion of grass clover: reducing reliance on nitrogen fertilisers.
Minimal fertiliser and pesticide use: improving water management and carbon sequestration.
Sustainable water management: improving water retention and drought resilience.
Livestock integration: introducing soil’s natural fertiliser to improve soil structure.
Forage production: a more balanced and nutritious forage for livestock.

Our approach to regenerative dairy farming

At FrieslandCampina Ingredients, we’re working towards a net climate-neutral impact on the planet and a net positive impact on nature within our dairy chain. As part of a dairy co-operative and guided by FrieslandCampina’s purpose, ‘Nourishing by nature’, we’re uniquely positioned to make an impact across our supply chain – from the farm to the factory and beyond.

To support our ambition of producing nutrition in harmony with nature, we are working with a growing group of pilot farms to explore how regenerative practices can support more resilient and sustainable dairy farming. By gathering data, sharing knowledge and learning alongside our farmers and partners, we are building an evidence base for what works for our farms. This journey is ongoing as we collaborate with our partners to scale these approaches over time and accelerate the transition.

Regenerative dairy farming pilot

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to farming. That’s why in 2024, we launched a regenerative agriculture study group, which now includes 60 FrieslandCampina member dairy farmers across the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Together, they’re exploring how regenerative agricultural practices work in the real world – sharing insights to drive wider adoption in Europe – and beyond.

Biodiversity monitor: tracking regenerative agriculture progress

To quantify and enhance the impact of individual farms on biodiversity, we developed our Biodiversity Monitor in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature in the Netherlands and Rabobank back in 2018. A unique tool, the monitor provides member dairy farms with valuable insights into biodiversity. It aligns with the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Regenerating Together framework and measures six key performance indicators, including greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen-soil balance, ammonia emissions, local protein production, permanent grassland and nature & landscape. With more data at their fingertips, it’s easier to make well-informed improvements to the farm.

Read why we measure our impact on nature here

Foqus planet: incentivising sustainable dairy farming practices

We reward farmers for real, measurable progress in biodiversity. Our results-based scheme offers financial incentives for improvements – no fixed methods, just outcomes, so farmers can choose their own path. Members track their impact with our biodiversity monitor, helping us measure greenhouse gas emissions at farm level. We’re proud to be one of the few dairy companies globally actually calculating emissions at farm level and using this to reward farmers.

Explore the initiative

Pioneering regenerative agriculture with industry collaboration

Positive change only happens if we work together – and collaborations form an important part of our regenerative agriculture efforts. As part of the Future Fit Dairy Initiative, our parent company, FrieslandCampina, is partnering with fellow industry leaders to implement a global framework for regenerative agriculture with support from the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform. By working with a data-driven approach, farmers can continuously improve, adapt and implement practices, to help increase adoption at scale and achieve meaningful results. We are also a partner in the Re-Ge-NL research initiative in the Netherlands, where we monitor whether the action on farms is achieving the right outcomes.

Are you ready to shape the future of dairy farming?

We’re committed to nourishing by nature – and accelerating the transition to regenerative agriculture is another step in helping us in our purpose. Innovation and investments on the farm are key to unlocking the full potential of regenerative dairy farming, driving long-term resilience, improving yields and building a healthier planet from the roots up.

Get in touch with our team to explore how we can work together to scale regenerative agriculture and support farmers on the transition toward more resilient production.

Get in touch

Regenerative dairy farming FAQ

Are consumers interested in dairy products made through regenerative dairy farming practices?

Shoppers are increasingly scrutinising labels for products that prioritise sustainability and are seeking nutrition brands that they trust. Research shows that consumers are willing to pay 9.7% more, on average, for sustainably produced or sourced goods,

PwC 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey.

although there’s no data to say that this translates into sales or not yet. Transparency continues to be crucial across the dairy industry – eco-conscious consumers want to know where their food comes from and how it was produced. In fact, more than 3 in 5 actually say their trust in a brand increases when they communicate the sustainability challenges they’re facing.

Innova, Top 10 trends for 2023, 2023

But with greenwashing a concern, proven claims are essential. As the industry works towards a more precise definition of regenerative agriculture, we expect consumers’ understanding of its qualitative benefits to improve too.
What claims can manufacturers use for regenerative dairy farming?

Although there’s no fixed definition of regenerative agriculture, guidelines are increasingly being introduced to help food and drink manufacturers make claims, without greenwashing. In some regions, like the UK and EU, absolute claims like ‘regenerative’, ‘nature-friendly’ and ‘sustainable’ can only now be used with a very high level of substantiation.
What impact does regenerative agriculture have on the dairy supply chain?

Regenerative agriculture builds more resilient ecosystems by reducing the risk of crop failures and supply chain disruptions caused by climate change, pests and diseases. Agricultural yields are typically extremely vulnerable to these factors, so improving supply chain reliability can help stabilise the prices of key commodities – potentially reducing downstream costs for manufacturers.
What are the barriers for farmers taking up regenerative agriculture?

Despite the wide-ranging benefits of regenerative agriculture, barriers remain for farmers, including insufficient access to knowledge, lack of funding and short-term transition risks like yield losses. Because of this, the burden cannot lie with farmers alone. Luckily, there’s a growing number of initiatives to help make it easier and more attractive for farmers to apply regenerative agricultural practices, such as our Foqus planet remuneration scheme and the Re-Ge-NL project. To successfully scale up regenerative agriculture practices, it’s essential that more support is given to farmers to help them access the right knowledge and resources to confidently make the transition and sustain it long term. Only by sharing responsibility can regenerative agriculture become a truly scalable, sustainable norm.
How does FrieslandCampina support dairy farmers in their sustainability efforts?

At FrieslandCampina, we help our member farmers strengthen their sustainability performance by measuring and rewarding verified results through our Foqus planet programme. Using trusted data and clear criteria, we provide farmers with insights into their environmental footprint and offer premiums for progress across climate, biodiversity, and animal health and welfare.

As FrieslandCampina Ingredients, we can accelerate on-farm action by working closely with customers, co-developing programmes that drive impact across the value chain. Partnerships with companies such as Danone and Nestlé enable us to support farmers in implementing practical, climate-positive solutions that benefit both farm operations and the wider industry.

Finally, we unlock new farm-level innovations by piloting emerging technologies and approaches together with farmers and expert partners. This includes piloting new technologies as well as exploring cleaner energy sources like solar, wind and manure-based systems, alongside other tools that make it easier for farmers to transition to future-proof practices. By combining measurement, collaboration and innovation, we help farmers make meaningful, evidence-based progress in their sustainability efforts.