Synlait, Nestle renew dairy partnership around emissions, efficiency and biodiversity

26/03/2026

Synlait and Nestle have renewed their on-farm partnership in New Zealand, extending a three-way model with nearly 40 Canterbury dairy farmers to support lower-emissions milk production and farm efficiency. The latest phase centers on digital tools, biodiversity measures and early deployment of methane-reduction technology on participating farms. 

According to Synlait, the program is expected to deepen the use of digital farming tools to improve efficiency, while also supporting the planting of up to 90,000 native trees and plants over five years. The company said participating farms could plant as many as 18,500 native trees and plants each year through its Whakapuawai program, which has already distributed more than 327,000 native plants since 2019. 

A key element in the renewed partnership is the early rollout of EcoPond, a Canterbury-developed technology that Synlait said can cut methane emissions from dairy effluent ponds by more than 90%. That matters commercially as well as environmentally: for dairy processors and brand owners, practical emissions-reduction tools at farm level are becoming more closely linked to supply chain resilience, customer expectations and long-term market access. 

The announcement also shows how processors and food companies are increasingly tying sustainability goals to on-farm economics. Synlait said the efficiency gains from the partnership can help farmers reduce emissions while maintaining, and potentially improving, profitability. In that sense, the renewed agreement is not only a climate initiative but also a business signal about where premium dairy supply chains are heading. 

The latest phase builds on a partnership first announced in March 2024, when Synlait and Nestle introduced a shared-investment model for emissions-reduction tools and other farm improvements. The renewed agreement suggests both companies see further room to scale measurable on-farm outcomes in dairy production.