Chobani LLC, maker of America's top Greek yogurt brand and the second-largest overall yogurt manufacturer in the U.S., announced this week a comprehensive, groundbreaking program to further its commitment to the positive transformation of its milkshed in support of the economic, environmental and social impacts of its main ingredient: fresh milk. The Milk Matters program will encompass Chobani's commitment to its milkshed as well as efforts to support greater transparency across dairy farms.

Milk Matters was designed to address the unprecedented challenges today's dairy industry faces.

“Many current industry programs and certifications, while well intended, address single issues in isolation and haven't gone far enough to truly provide relief for struggling farms,” the company noted. “Milk Matters takes a comprehensive approach to bringing transparency to dairy, providing meaningful support for the entire dairy community and preserving long-term viability for the industry.”

The program will include co-op partners, dairy farms and third parties such as FairTrade USA, World Wildlife Fund, National Milk Producers Federation, Cornell University, state programs and community foundations in Idaho and New York to validate ongoing progress. Milk Matters is working towards 100% implementation by 2025.

"Proud to share our vision for the future of dairy — from cows to people to planet. It's a small step with a big message: The future of dairy farmers matters to all of us," Chobani founder and chief executive Hamdi Ulukaya said. "Dairy farms are the backbone of the communities we call home, but the current model is broken, and it's leaving consumers questioning everything, including the treatment of animals, farm workers and the land itself. Our solution is simple but powerful. We all have a responsibility to support the farmers who make our business and our vision possible."

Paul Rice, chief executive officer of Fair Trade USA, said, "This is a big move for one of the important sectors of agriculture in the U.S., creating shared trust, partnership and value between consumers, farms and brands with a Fair Trade USA standard for dairy. By funding the exploration and development of a standard that will be available to the entire dairy industry, Chobani is taking a real leadership position. We're thrilled to support an initiative that will drive continued progress, value, and transparency across the dairy industry."

To develop this program, Chobani spent the past several years listening to farmers, farm workers, elected officials and experts across the dairy industry to create a comprehensive path forward. The company said it is proud to take a leadership position in the category at a time when dairy in the U.S. is at a moment of evolution. Chobani wants to empower consumers to feel confident in knowing where their dairy is from and the difference it is making.

While many dairy programs address issues in isolation, Chobani aims to change that with Milk Matters by outlining six critical pillars:

"This is the first time in my experience at Cornell that a dairy processor has stepped forward during a challenging economic time and wanted to do something extra to help the farms in their milkshed," said Dr. Tom Overton, director of the Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY Program. "I commend Chobani for this commitment and look forward to working with them to benefit the New York dairy farms that provide their milk."

Emily Yeiser Stepp, director of the FARM Animal Care Program, said implementation of the FARM Program demonstrated the commitment Chobani's dairy farmers and suppliers have to social responsibility and continuous improvement.

"The vision for Milk Matters aligns with the FARM Program and amplifies the excellent care of the people, animals and land that our dairy farmers implement daily on their operations," she said.