Established in 2008, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy is the first organization of its kind to align the collective resources of the industry around its barriers and opportunities, so consumers are offered the dairy products and ingredients they need for a healthy and productive lifestyle. Already the Innovation Center has engaged nearly 400 people and their resources to meet that goal.
Meet the Sustainability Operating Committee
This committee supports the Innovation Center by providing strategic direction for industrywide action, as well as fundraising to support the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment. Each member brings a unique perspective and expertise leading to breakthrough thinking and pre-competitive collaboration.
The industry's goal is to:
- Meet consumer demand by reaffirming and highlighting the industry’s commitment to nutritious foods and responsible practices
- Preserve the natural environment for future generations
- Create business value to ensure the economic viability of the industry
Operating committee members
- Mike McCloskey, Select Milk Producers — Chair
- Robert Foster, Foster Brothers Farms
- Chris Galen, National Milk Producers Federation
- Bob Goldin, Technomic
- Chip Jones, Dean Foods
- Wayne Palla, Palla Dairy
- Jerry Slominski, International Dairy Foods Association
- Jeanne Von Zastrow, Food Marketing Institute
- Bryan Weech, World Wildlife Fund
- Roger Zellner, Kraft Foods Inc.
Meet the Sustainability Council
The Sustainability Council is a leadership team of producers, processors, manufacturers, retailers and dairy industry experts from nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions. It convened for the first time in early 2008 and since has shepherded the process from the June 2008 Sustainability Summit, where goals and projects were conceived, to the creation of the U.S Dairy Roadmap to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Increase Business Value.
From the beginning, the Sustainability Council embraced the opportunity for the industry to lead in GHG reduction and marketplace innovation for sustainable food.
Today it shapes vision and goals, supports GHG reduction projects, and anticipates next steps for the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment.
Sustainability council members
Cooperatives
Agri-Mark, Inc.
Cabot Creamery Cooperative
Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
Dairylea
Grupo LALA
Land O’Lakes
Michigan Milk Producers Association
United Dairymen of Arizona
Upstate Niagara Cooperative
Producers
Byrne Dairy
Clauss Dairy Farms
Fair Oaks Farms
Foster Brothers Farms
Gar-Lin Dairy Farm
Graywood Farm
Haubenschild Farms Inc.
Spruce Haven Farm
Processors and Manufacturers
Byrne Dairy, Inc.
The Dannon Company, Inc.
Darigold, Inc.
Dean Foods
HP Hood LLC
General Mills Inc.
Kraft Foods Inc.
Oakhurst Dairy
Prairie Farms Dairy
Shamrock Farms
Stonyfield Farms
Retailers
The Kroger Company
Wal-Mart
Other Organizations
Blu Skye Sustainability Consulting
California Milk Advisory Board
Dairy Management Inc.
Dairy Marketing Services, LLC
DairyMAX
International Dairy Foods Association
Manomet Center for Conservation Services
McLeod, Watkinson & Miller
National Milk Producers Federation
Ruan Transport
Strategic Conservation Services
University of Arkansas: Applied Sustainability Center
USDA
USDA/AMS Dairy Programs
Watkinson Law
Watson Mulhern Communications
Western United Dairymen
World Wildlife Fund