The global dairy sector continues to drive progress in farming, processing, animal health, packaging, nutrition, and community development. This commitment is reflected in the 4th Annual IDF Dairy Innovation Awards 2025, which recognize and celebrate outstanding innovations that strengthen the dairy industry worldwide.
Organized by the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and sponsored by Tetra Pak, a global leader in food processing and packaging solutions, the awards showcase innovations that improve efficiency, sustainability, and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This year, the competition received over 130 entries from various countries, demonstrating the sector’s creativity and dedication to improvement at every stage of the value chain.
Participation and Key Dates
- Entry period: 7 April – 7 June 2025
- Evaluation period: 9 July – 10 August 2025
- Finalists announced: 1 September 2025
- Winners awarded: 21 October 2025, during the IDF World Dairy Summit in Santiago, Chile — the first time the event will be held in South America.
Participation:
- IDF members – Free entry
- Non-members – Paid registration
For more information or to submit an entry, visit the IDF Dairy Innovation Awards webpage.
Award Categories (10 Prizes in 4 Groups)
- Sustainable Farming Practices
- a) Environmental Sustainability in Farming
- b) Animal Care in Farming
- c) Socio-Economic Sustainability in Farming
- Sustainable Processing Innovation
- New Product Innovation
- a) Dairy Products for Human Nutrition
- b) Food Safety Equipment
- c) Packaging and Transparency in Dairy Products
- People & Planet in the Dairy Sector
- a) Inclusion and Women’s Empowerment
- b) Climate Action in Dairy
- c) Marketing and Communication for Sustainable Dairy
Evaluation Process
The evaluation process follows a transparent and standardized system aligned with global sustainability goals. Each entry is judged on five key variables using a four-level scoring scale (from basic to disruptive innovation).
Evaluation Period: 9 July – 10 August 2025 (extended due to high participation).
Evaluation Criteria (IDF Dairy Innovation Awards 2025)
| Criteria | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Innovation | How original and valuable the idea is for the dairy sector. |
| Scalability | How easily the idea can be expanded or used elsewhere. |
| Partnership | The level of teamwork and collaboration involved. |
| Global Agenda | How well the project supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). |
| Evidence | Availability of reliable data or proof showing the project’s real impact. |
Scoring Levels
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Basic or no innovation; limited impact; no partnerships; not SDG-aligned; no evidence. |
| Level 2 | Some innovation; scalable elements; strategic partnerships; SDG-linked actions; limited data. |
| Level 3 | Strong innovation; replicable; formal collaborations; SDG and local alignment; primary data available. |
| Level 4 | Disruptive, globally scalable innovation; integrated partnerships; major SDG impact; robust evaluation system. |
Transparency and integrity
All entries are reviewed by an independent panel of experts. The evaluation framework ensures consistency and objectivity, with each criterion scored independently and aggregated for final decisions.
Read More: India’s Dairy Sector: Growth and Opportunities
Winners and Finalists
1. Sustainable Farming Practices
a) Environmental Sustainability
- Winner: DESTiny (South Africa) – Web-based tool measuring carbon emissions and improving sustainability.
- CONAPROLE – Tambo Sustentable (Uruguay)
- Nescafé Gold Blend – Regenerative Milk Plan (Switzerland)
b) Animal Care
- Winner: Mastaplex – Mastatest (New Zealand) – On-farm mastitis test reducing antibiotic use.
- Bharat Financial Inclusion & IndusInd Bank (India)
- GEA Farm Technologies – CattleEye (UK)
c) Socio-Economic Sustainability
- Winner: NITARA (India) – AI-based dairy management app for small farmers.
- FrieslandCampina – Dairy Development (Netherlands)
- Dairibord Zimbabwe – Milk Supply Development Unit (Zimbabwe)
2. Sustainable Processing Innovation
- Winner: SARAS (India) – First Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plant in India, recycling 660,000 L/day.
- Rockview Farms – WETEP Project (USA)
- Soprole – Waste Reduction Project (Chile)
3. New Product Innovation
a) Dairy Products for Human Nutrition
- Winner: Youbo – Ruimu (China) – Infant formula replicating human milk with probiotics.
- Xinhuo – Bone Energy Formula Milk Powder (China)
- Future Star – Special Care Children’s Formula (China)
b) Food Safety Equipment
- Winner: Hygiena (Germany) – PCR test kit detecting Salmonella and Cronobacter in 24 hours.
- Yili (China) – Automated probiotic equipment cleaning system.
- Unisensor – DipSensor (Belgium)
c) Packaging & Transparency
- Winner: Satine (China) – Plant-based tethered-cap milk, 33% emission reduction, eco-reinvestment.
- Yili Ambrosial (China) – For a Bluer Ocean recyclable packaging.
- YogurtDay Mengniu (China) – Marine-degradable straws.
4. People & Planet in the Dairy Sector
a) Inclusion & Women’s Empowerment
- Winner: Soprole (Chile) – Mentorship program supporting women in leadership.
- Nestlé Moça – Força da Moça® do Campo (Switzerland)
- Soprole – School Sports Programme (Chile)
b) Climate Action
- Winner: NDDB (India) – Carbon credits from biogas plants for smallholder farmers.
- Soprole – Sonrisa Circular (Chile)
- Environmental Defense Fund – Dairy Methane Action Alliance (USA)
c) Marketing & Communication
- Winner: Dairy Farmers of Canada – “It’s in Everything We Do” campaign on sustainability.
- FrieslandCampina – SEANUTS II (Netherlands)
- Yili – Zero Carbon Guardian Project (China)
In Summary
The IDF Dairy Innovation Awards 2025 highlight the dairy industry’s global effort to create a smarter, greener, and fairer food system. From India’s ZLD plants to Chile’s women’s empowerment programs, the winners reflect the future of sustainable dairy — where innovation meets impact.
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Disclaimer
I do my best to share reliable and well-researched market insights but but occasional errors or omissions may slip through. Please view all content as informational, not financial advice.
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