Fonterra: Expressions of Interest

Opportunity for

Research groups, startups and technology providers with TRL4+ solutions
Partners interested in testing or scaling solutions in industrial or commercial dairy settings
Collaborators seeking commercialisation or co-development opportunities

Opportunity description

Industry challenge

Fonterra is a farmer-owned co-operative based in Aotearoa New Zealand, producing around 16 billion litres of milk annually and exporting to over 130 countries. We’re focused on being the source of the world’s most valued dairy by delivering high-quality nutrition while caring for every drop.

To meet the growing demand for sustainable, efficient, and value-added dairy solutions, we are looking to collaborate with external partners to solve pressing on-farm, manufacturing, and supply chain challenges. We’re interested in breakthrough innovations that align with our strategy to improve sustainability, unlock new food and ingredient capabilities, and enhance operational flexibility and profitability for our farmers and customers.

Current opportunity

Fonterra’s Innovation Partnership team is seeking collaborators with proven benchtop or lab-scale technologies (TRL4+) that are ready to be tested in industrial environments and scaled commercially.

Topics we are interested in improving, optimising or finding lasting solutions for:

Climate and emission reduction
Biodiversity, land, and on-farm productivity
Water reduction and waste stream valorisation
Animal health and wellbeing
Nutrition and health
Sustainable packaging

To express interest in this opportunity, companies are encouraged to submit an enquiry via the “Enquire now” button, outlining their technology or capability and its relevance to Fonterra’s priority challenges.

Enquiries will be reviewed by the Fonterra team, and where there is strong alignment, they will reach out to arrange an initial scoping meeting. This meeting will help assess fit within Fonterra’s systems and explore potential pathways for collaboration, partnership, or trials.

Successful partnerships will contribute to long-term recurring value and may have access to Fonterra’s extensive manufacturing network, innovation expertise, and global market reach.

Opportunity background

Fonterra has an established history of partnering to advance dairy innovation, such as:

Our Innovation Partnership Team’s mandate is to identify and establish relationships with strategic partners to deliver on our breakthrough innovation aspirations which enables delivery of the Innovation Strategy.

Potential other applications

While our core focus is dairy, we are open to exploring cross-sector innovation opportunities in food manufacturing, energy, carbon capture, and circular economy applications. Technologies that can contribute to broader food system transformation or enhance sustainability across supply chains are encouraged to connect.

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