New farmer incentives to reduce on-farm emissions

Fonterra has announced new funding for farmers to reduce their on-farm emissions.

For the 2025/26 season beginning on 1 June, Fonterra will introduce a payment for farms that achieve certain emissions-related criteria, as part of updates to its Co-operative Difference framework.

Meanwhile, new incentives that benefit farmers will be funded through separate agreements with Mars and Nestlé, who have been working with Fonterra to make progress towards their individual sustainability goals by supporting farmers to reduce emissions.

“We’re growing relationships with customers who value the hard work farmers put into producing sustainable, high-quality milk, along with the co-op’s quality of on-farm data and ongoing commitment to improvement,” CEO Miles Hurrell said. “This helps us make progress towards achieving our on-farm emissions target and deliver the highest returns for our farmer shareholders’ milk.

“Last year, we confirmed six strategic choices that we believe will help grow further value in the years ahead and this is an example of how we’re delivering on two of those choices, deliver the strongest farmer offering and build on our sustainability position.”

The new funding includes:

A new Co-operative Difference payment

To date, a total of up to 10 cents per kilogram of milk solids (kgMS) has been possible across all achievements within Fonterra’s Co-operative Difference framework. A new ‘Emissions Excellence’ achievement will offer a further payment of 1–5 cents per kgMS for farms that meet certain criteria. Based on last season’s data, it’s estimated that around 5000 farms will be eligible for the payment next season.

New customer incentives

Funding from separate agreements with Mars and Nestlé will be split between:

On-farm solutions: Farmers who achieve the Co-operative Difference will be eligible for access to on-farm tools or services designed to further improve emissions efficiency, for example herd efficiency services from LIC and CRV. Based on last season’s achievements, 87% of farmers would’ve been eligible.

Extra 10–25 cents per kgMS ‘Emissions Incentive’ payment: Farmers who achieve the Co-operative Difference and have one of the lowest emissions footprints in the Co-op (around 30% lower than the average farm) will receive an ‘Emissions Incentive’ payment of 10–25 cents per kgMS. Based on last season’s data, it’s estimated that between 300 and 350 farms will be eligible for this payment next season.

Mars Snacking Chief R&D, Procurement and Sustainability Officer Amanda Davies said between new equipment and technology, embracing more sustainable practices comes with a price tag for farmers.

“That’s why we’re working with partners like Fonterra to help remove this barrier — providing cash, tools and technology to support farmers in making meaningful, long-term changes.”

Nestlé New Zealand CEO, Jennifer Chappell, said Nestlé globally is a significant purchaser of New Zealand dairy ingredients, and dairy remains its largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

“As we strive towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050, we are committed to reducing our Scope 3 emissions. We will continue to support farmers, in partnership with Fonterra, fostering new economic opportunities and helping them lower their greenhouse gas emissions.”

Mars and Nestlé have independently supported Fonterra farmers with their sustainability actions through initiatives introduced over the past couple of seasons.

In 2024, Fonterra farmers were invited to take part in the Mars Tools and Services pilot, which provided access to tools and services, including animal efficiency services and digital tools. Additionally, Mars previously supported the Greener Choices program, which made it easier for Fonterra farmers to identify and buy products at Farm Source stores that could help them make sustainability improvements on-farm.

In 2022, Fonterra and Nestlé announced a partnership that included the Net Zero Pilot Dairy Farm in Taranaki, designed to help reduce on-farm emissions.

In 2023, Fonterra announced that Nestlé would make an additional payment of 1–2 cents per kgMS for farms that achieved any level of the Co-operative Difference. This payment has been replaced with the new 'Emissions Incentive' payment from next season.

Image credit: iStock.com/nazar_ab