Research and Development

Uncovering the future of dairy
There’s more to milk than meets the eye. A genuine superfood, milk is packed with goodness – and we’re uncovering more every day.  

Paving the way in dairy innovation and science, driven by our mindset of solving, our unique place in the world, and our track record of breakthroughs from farm to processing to distribution and beyond, delivering more value from every drop. 

Take a look inside the FRDC

Fonterra Research and Development Centre


At Fonterra's Research and Development Center (FRDC), innovation is the heart of our mission. For nearly a century, we have been at the forefront of pioneering advancements in dairy technology, driven by our unwavering commitment to delivering sustainable value from New Zealand's world-renowned milk. We focus on all ages and stages of life, while also tackling some of our biggest sustainability challenges and ensuring we produce high quality safe dairy nutrition.

Our R&D pedigree

     

1 000+ academic papers

demonstrates our contribution to the academic community and advancement of research.

     

500+ patents

showcase our commitment to research and development.

     

60+ global partnerships

indicates our commitment to fostering global connections and leveraging collective expertise for mutual growth and innovation. 

 

A legacy of solving

Being from a unique nation at the edge of the world, we’ve always had to be resourceful and inventive to compete on the world stage. This mindset has propelled a proud and extensive history of solving that has shaped the global dairy industry – from pioneering milk processing techniques to developing efficiency-driving technologies to delivering more value from every drop of milk, our legacy of innovation speaks for itself.

 

Maximising the potential of every drop

We know New Zealand milk and the incredible potential it has. Our teams are continuously working to uncover this by creating superior products, improving formulas and performance, and developing innovative technologies. We are focused on innovation from grass to glass, all while adhering to the highest sustainability, food safety and product quality standards. 

 

Our collaborative approach

What we’ve achieved hasn’t happened alone – and nor will our achievements in the future. We know that truly transformative, accelerated innovation happens when like-minded partners and customers collaborate to solve together. Our research and development (R&D) center serves as a global hub for collaboration, bringing together industry experts, partners, and visionaries to tackle complex challenges and drive positive change. By fostering partnerships and knowledge exchange, we aim to accelerate the pace of innovation in the dairy sector.

  

Solving for a better tomorrow

As we look ahead, our vision remains clear: to lead the way in sustainable dairy innovation. We are committed to creating a brighter, more sustainable future for dairy by continuously developing new and improved products, processes, and technologies that benefit our communities, farmers, customers and the environment.

Leading experts in dairy science


Amongst our team we have a diverse range of skillsets, knowledge, backgrounds, specialties, and personalities to offer - many are respected and recognised as global leaders in their fields. 

A history of R&D

We continue to push the boundaries of dairy science and technology solutions. With over 350 employees, we are home to a team of expert scientists, technologists and engineers.