ALDI SÜD Group and Friesland­Campina launch partnership

The ALDI SÜD Group and FrieslandCampina are launching a multiyear strategic partnership supporting an initial group of over 60 dairy farmers in Germany and the Netherlands to strengthen farm resilience, improve soil health and biodiversity, and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions, with further expansion starting on 1 January 2027. The partnership represents a joint investment in the future of dairy farming in Europe and seeks to demonstrate how collaboration across the value chain can accelerate progress. The partnership combines ALDI SÜD Group's investment and long-term commitment with FrieslandCampina's dairy expertise and close collaboration with its member dairy farmers.

The partnership includes:

• A 3-year agricultural programme intended to strengthen farm resilience by supporting German FrieslandCampina member dairy farmers to implement new farming practices and reduce inputs, intended to deliver environmental benefits.
• A 5-year carbon reduction programme supporting Dutch FrieslandCampina member dairy farmers drive greenhouse gas emissions reductions on participating Dutch farms, through measures including on-farm use of HVO renewable diesel, and improved feed and manure management.
  
  Participating farmers will receive tailored advice, financial support, and training to help them plan and implement changes on farm.

Shared commitment across the dairy value chain

By combining regenerative agriculture practices and carbon reduction initiatives, the partners intend to help farmers adopt more sustainable and resilient farming practices while maintaining productive and economically viable dairy businesses. The partners also plan to share insights and learnings across the dairy sector to encourage wider adoption of approaches shown to be effective. The longer-term ambition is to support broader collaboration across the dairy value chain and encourage more industry partners to contribute to the transition towards more resilient and lower-emission dairy farming.

"Farmers are constantly looking for ways to improve our farms for future generations. Having access to practical tools, knowledge, and financial support helps us take meaningful steps forward and creating positive outcomes for both our farm and the environment. Support from across the dairy chain gives us the confidence to invest in changes that strengthen our farm for the long term.", says Albert Stegemann, FrieslandCampina member dairy farmer in Germany.

"Our new Force for Good strategy is about turning ambition into action, and real change requires collaboration across the supply chain. Together with FrieslandCampina, we’re helping participating farmers improve soil health, reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, and advance regenerative agriculture. Our aim is to turn progress on farms into wider change across the food system, strengthening the long-term resilience of dairy supply chains and our ability to offer high-quality, affordable dairy products”, says Anke Ehlers, International Sustainability Officer at the ALDI SÜD Group.

"Farmers are at the heart of the transition towards more resilient, sustainable, and lower-emission dairy farming. But the transition cannot be realised by farmers alone: it requires long-term commitment and investment across the value chain. Together with the ALDI SÜD Group, we are turning shared ambitions into action by combining sustainability objectives, commercial investment and practical support for farmers.", says Mireille Einwachter, Chief Farm & Sustainability Officer at FrieslandCampina.

About the programmes in the partnership

Regenerative agriculture programme in Germany
Since 1 September 2026, 30 FrieslandCampina member dairy farms in Germany are taking part in a 3-year programme aiming to improve soil health, biodiversity, and water stewardship. The partners intend to expand the programme to 40 farms from 1 January 2027. Each farm follows a tailored transition plan based on its specific opportunities for improvement, with measures such as grass-clover rotations with less fertiliser, improved soil structure and planting hedges. The programme follows the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform's outcome-based Regenerating Together framework, supporting farmers to deliver continuous measurable improvements on-farm.

Carbon accelerator programme in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands 32 FrieslandCampina member dairy farms participate in the carbon reduction programme. The partners intend to expand participation from 1 January 2027. The programme supports farmers in onboarding measures such as improved feed and manure management and HVO renewable diesel, on top of actions already carried out as part of Foqus Planet, FrieslandCampina's quality and sustainability programme.