Data Becomes Dairy’s New Power Source

dsm-firmenich and the Milk Sustainability Center unite to turn dairy data into measurable climate action

4 Nov 2025

A quiet revolution is taking shape in the dairy industry, and its fuel isn’t milk; it’s data. dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health has joined forces with the Milk Sustainability Center (MSC), part of a digital ecosystem first built by John Deere and DeLaval, to help North American and European farms measure and manage their environmental footprints.

At the core of the alliance is dsm-firmenich’s Sustell platform, which tracks the environmental impact of animal production. When merged with MSC’s cloud-based tools, it will let farmers see in real time how herd performance, feed composition, and crop practices affect emissions and efficiency. Sustainability, once a lofty target, becomes a concrete daily metric.

Mounting pressure from retailers, regulators, and consumers has made transparency essential. The integrated system aims to monitor methane output, energy use, and other key indicators with high precision, turning raw data into actionable insights. The result: smarter decisions, leaner operations, and a clearer route to cutting greenhouse gases.

“This partnership is about turning insight into impact,” said a dsm-firmenich executive. The collaboration draws together dsm-firmenich’s analytics, John Deere’s precision agriculture tools, and DeLaval’s dairy expertise, forming a connected digital space where performance and sustainability data align.

Industry analysts see this as a sign of things to come. Farms able to prove progress on emissions could gain an edge with processors and retailers seeking traceable, low-impact milk. Smaller producers, too, might find new opportunities through sustainability-linked financing.

Challenges remain, from technology costs to uneven internet access, but momentum is building. As early adopters show how data can drive efficiency and trust across supply chains, the industry’s outlook is shifting.

The partnership between dsm-firmenich and the Milk Sustainability Center isn’t just about innovation; it’s about accountability. By putting measurable data in farmers’ hands, it points toward a dairy sector that’s not only productive but genuinely sustainable.