The five-year strategic agreement with see the CSIRO apply its expertise in remote sensing, resource engineering, ecosystem, food and water to help propel Fonterra’s V3 strategy.
Fonterra’s V3 business strategy was developed in 2012 and according to Fonterra CEO, Theo Spierings, the strategy has accurately predicted the growing demand for dairy in emerging markets, and that demand would outstrip supply growth.
Fonterra chief technology officer, Dr Jeremy Hill, said that the partnership with CSIRO enable the development of a range of solutions to address Fonterra's science and technology needs.
“On-farm, CSIRO will turn their attention to herd productivity, effluent management and milk quality, and then work through our supply chain looking at processing and analytical technology, food structure and design, and consumer health benefits. We’re leaving no stone unturned to ensure Fonterra stays at the cutting edge of dairy innovation,” he said.
CSIRO’s executive director, agriculture, food and health, Maurice Moloney said that the partnership serves as a key component of CSIRO’s strategy to deliver research solutions across the global dairy industry.
“Our expertise provides significant opportunities across the entire dairy value-chain and by connecting with the likes of Fonterra we can speed delivery to market, and hence the positive impact, of this know-how,” he said.
“There are a great many possibilities to share expertise, knowledge and know-how between our two organisations that will build on Fonterra's current strengths in dairy science and technology and the broad capabilities that exist within CSIRO,” said Hill. We’re looking forward to exploiting the full potential of this new partnership.”
