Pioneering Regenerative Dairy through Collaboration and Innovation
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Overview
Overview
Regenerative agriculture is viewed as a key pathway for a more sustainable and resilient system—restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, improving nutrient cycles, and helping to rebalance climate and water systems. Recognizing the complexity of this transition, FrieslandCampina acknowledges that it demands investment, innovation, and, above all, collaboration. In 2025, 30 member dairy farms took the lead by participating in a three-year regenerative farming pilot. This initiative is financially supported by Lidl and strategically backed by the National Growth Fund programme ReGeNL. The pilot’s central ambition is to co-develop an open-access, measurable standard for regenerative agriculture that can be scaled across the sector. By incorporating practices such as herb-rich grasslands and grazing, the project aims to demonstrate how ecological and economic objectives can be aligned. Beyond supporting farmers in adopting regenerative methods, the pilot also fosters stronger collaboration throughout the food supply chain—from producers to retailers and knowledge institutions.
Ultimately, the project envisions a food system that delivers benefits for nature, farmers, and consumers alike.
Key actors
Key actors
FrieslandCampina: Initiator and coordinator of the pilot, providing expertise and farmer network.
Lidl Netherlands: Financial supporter and first retail partner to back regenerative dairy.
ReGeNL (National Growth Fund Programme): Strategic partner offering system-level support and knowledge.
Thirty FrieslandCampina member dairy farms: Implementing regenerative practices on the ground.
Knowledge institutions: Supporting with monitoring, evaluation, and development of standards.
Lessons learned
Lessons learned
A key insight is the recognition that regenerative agriculture is not only ecologically beneficial but also economically viable, if farmers receive the right support. The surprise lies in the strong commitment from a retail partner like Lidl, which signals a shift in how food retailers can actively shape sustainable supply chains. The challenge remains in scaling these practices while ensuring measurable impact and a robust learning model for farmers.
Alignment with EAT-Lancet Commission
Alignment with EAT-Lancet Commission
Promoting sustainable food production through regenerative practices.
Supporting healthy ecosystems via soil restoration and biodiversity.
Encouraging collaborative governance across the food system.
Contributing to economic resilience for farmers.
Laying the groundwork for healthy diets by ensuring sustainable dairy production.
Progress is tracked through both ecological and economic indicators. Each participating farm develops a tailored plan, and implementation is monitored over two years. Key metrics include:
Soil health indicators (e.g., organic matter, structure)
Biodiversity levels (e.g., plant and insect diversity)
Grazing and land use practices
Farmer income and cost-benefit analysis
Consumer engagement and retail uptake
Next steps
Next steps
Scale up to more farms by expanding participation beyond the initial 30, aiming for ReGeNL’s goal of 1,000 farmers by 2031.
Develop and publish the open-access standard for regenerative dairy farming.
Engage more retail and foodservice partners to create market demand and financial incentives.
Collaborate with policymakers and researchers to embed regenerative agriculture in national sustainability frameworks and funding schemes.
For more information contact: Ylona Mak at Ylona.Mak@frieslandcampina.com
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