Fonterra Whareroa sets cheese record, wins top award
Fonterra Whareroa wrapped up a successful season with a record-breaking cheese production volume and several gongs at the co-op's annual Best Site Cup awards.
Fonterra's latest sustainability scorecard shows the co-operative making good progress towards its targets.
One of the co-op's biggest achievements is the 11% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from coal in a single year, primarily through the conversion to renewable wood pellets at its Te Awamutu site.
Chief operating officer Fraser Whineray says this is a great sept towards delivering its 2030 target and the goal of getting out of coal by 2037.
"Having committed to get out of coal by 2037 from the nine remaining sites, Te Awamutu provided material GHG reductions and further confidence to undertake out next project at our Stirling cheese site in the South Island.
"Stirling will become our first 100% renewable thermal energy site.
"We are already one of the most carbon efficient producers of dairy nutrition in the world, and there is more to be done."
He says its important Fonterra continues to make progress in its operations to complement the significant innovation and change by farmer owners.
One of the ways we're supporting their on-farm activity is through The Co-operative Difference, he adds. This season The Co-operative Difference payment for milk comes into effect. In addition to valuing milk quality, it rewards farmers for on-farm demonstration of care for the environment, animals, people and community.
For the 20-21 season, there was a 25% increase in farms achieving the top and the midpoint targets, with around a third of farmer owners recognised in the overall programme. 53% of farmers in New Zealand also have tailored Farm Environment Plans, up from 34% last year.
"We are on track to meet our target of 100% by 2025 and these are provided free of charge to all Fonterra farmers," says Whineray.
"Considering our people goals, whilst there has been improvement towards our diversity targets there is room for improvement when it comes to women and ethnic minorities in senior leadership positions."
Fonterra's gender pay gap has narrowed across all job categories. In New Zealand the co-op is now down to 3.8% on a median basis, compared to the national average of 9.5%.
It has also recently extended its parental leave in New Zealand so employees will now have their government parental leave cover topped up to 100% of base salary or wages for 26 weeks.
On its sustainability scorecard, Whineray says transparently reporting across a range of sustainability metrics is very important for the co-operative.
Progress Results
![]() |
---|
Fonterra has delivered a good sustainability scorecard. |
Environment
People
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.