Chobani unveils program to support the future of dairy
Chobani has announced a comprehensive program to further its commitment to positive transformation of its milkshed—supporting the economic, environmental, and social impacts of its milk.
Chobani has announced a comprehensive program to further its commitment to positive transformation of its milkshed—supporting the economic, environmental, and social impacts of its milk. The Milk Matters program will encompass Chobani’s commitment to its milkshed as well as efforts to support greater transparency across dairy farms.
Milk Matters was designed to address the challenges being faced by today’s dairy industry. According to Chobani, many current industry programs and certifications, while well-intended, address single issues in isolation and haven’t gone far enough to truly provide relief for struggling farms. Milk Matters takes a comprehensive approach to bringing transparency to dairy, providing meaningful support for the entire dairy community, and preserving long-term viability for the industry.
The program will include co-op partners, dairy farms, and third parties such as Fair Trade USA, the World Wildlife Fund, National Milk Producers Federation, Cornell University, state programs, and community foundations in Idaho and New York to validate the continued progress. Milk Matters is working towards 100% implementation by 2025.
“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,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani. “Our solution is simple but powerful. We all have a responsibility to support the farmers who make our business and our vision possible.”
To develop this program, Chobani spent the past several years listening to farmers, farm workers, elected officials, and experts across the dairy industry to create a comprehensive path forward. Chobani plans to tackle the issues in the industry by addressing six critical pillars: Worker well-being, environmental stewardship, animal care, local sourcing, investing in dairy communities, and freedom and flexibility for dairy farms.