ADPF supports processor members with a suite of practical tools and resources addressing issues that affect their businesses in real time. Members also receive up-to-date information and guidance on government, regulatory and policy developments across ADPF’s six strategic priority areas.
Deloitte Report: Economic and Broader Contribution of the Australian Dairy Processing Industry
Australian Dairy Products Federation (ADPF) has launched a new report by Deloitte Access Economics on the Economic and Broader Contribution of the Australian Dairy Processing Industry, that highlights the significant contribution dairy processors make to the Australian economy and regional communities.
ADPF commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to provide the first, singularly focused comprehensive positioning of the dairy processing industry and its economic contribution and value more broadly across Australia – including employment, environment and sustainability, exports, transport and regional development.
Highlights from the report include:
The following resources provide complete coverage of the economic report and include the full report, a summary in the form of an infographic, a link to a podcast discussion and case-studies.
Listen to the Podcast with renowned rural journalist Sue Neales in conversation with ADPF President Grant Crothers, Brownes Dairy CEO Natalie Sarich-Dayton and Fonterra Australia Managing Director René Dedoncker as they discuss the report and provide some insights into what two processors are doing on the sustainability front and to meet consumer demand.
Read about Fonterra Australia’s work in developing sustainable packaging
Read about Western Australia’s Brownes Dairy as they bring back the ‘Milko’ home delivery service
Read about how Burra Foods are investing in their people and their local dairy communities
Read about how Lactalis Australia, in partnership with Booth Transport, have been able to drive strong sustainability gains and environmental outcomes
The Dairy Code of Conduct (Dairy Code) came into effect on 1 January 2020, aiming to improve the transparency of trading arrangements between dairy farmers and those buying milk.
The Dairy Code sets out mandatory elements in supply contracts. It requires processors that intend to purchase milk during the next financial year to publicly publish standard forms of milk supply agreements (MSAs) on their website before 2pm on 1 June each year, including minimum milk pricing.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is responsible for enforcing the code and has the power to investigate and take enforcement action. Breaches of the code may result in civil penalties.
Review of the Dairy Code
The Australian Government conducted its first scheduled review of the code in 2021, with the review’s report publicly released in February 2022. The Government response to the review report was then released in March 2022.
The second review was completed by the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in December 2025.
This review found the Dairy Code continued to operate largely as intended. It made several recommendations to provide farmers and processors greater flexibility and clarity when implementing the Dairy Code. There are also recommendations to improve education and understanding of the Dairy Code across the industry.
The DAFF report has reflected ADPF’s advocacy to allow for reduced cooling-off periods and heard processor concerns about unsigned contracts.
Developed with the support of dairy processors – both ADPF members and non-members, the Milk Value Portal (MVP) takes average farmgate milk pricing (FMP) data and puts it in an easy-to-use format that farmers can easily interpret.
The MVP provides answers to the question ‘what is the milk price’ and ‘what drives the milk price in Australia?’ It includes relevant global and domestic intelligence and insights into the dairy market and supply chain influences on price.
At the core of the MVP, is the Farmgate Milk Value Tool that enables an interactive experience on FMP value, based on current and verified processor data.
Farmers can enter their farm parameters such as geography, farm size, and milk components (fat and protein content), to see what the average milk market is paying (in cents/litre or $/kg of milk solids) for a particular time of the year.
Farmers can then use this data to adapt their farms to achieve the best value and know what to expect when contracts are up for renewal.
The data is regularly updated to ensure the Portal remains relevant.
The Milk Value Portal is a fully-integrated one-stop shop for milk price modelling that is available free for use. It can be accessed through a web browser on a desktop or tablet, and is also mobile-friendly.
It’s an incredibly simple and easy to use tool that provides an intuitive user experience. You don’t have to be an economist to get the most out of the tool.
Click here to visit the Milk Value Portal.
Introducing the Milk Value Portal (MVP) - an industry-first one-stop shop that helps farmers understand the value of their raw milk. This Flip Book outlines the challenge, how MVP helps solve it and an overview of how to use to the tool.
ADPF’s 2026 to 2030 Strategic Plan sets out to build competitive, secure and sustainable supply chains grounded in local manufacturing, strong communities and global credibility.
Under the new strategy, ADPF will focus on lifting productivity and growing the milk pool, securing a sustainable supply chain, building a future-ready workforce, expanding market access and strengthening demand for Aussie dairy, championing progressive policy reform, and enhancing industry leadership and collaboration.
More: ADPF Strategic Plan
More: ADPF Chair and CEO on industry, growth and ADPF’s plan
The Australian Dairy Sustainability Framework is a collaborative effort between Australian Dairy Products Federation, Dairy Australia and Australian Dairy Farmers. Together, our Dairy Promise is to provide nutritious food for a healthier world.
Through the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework, we report against our promise and commitments to dairy people, the wellbeing of the community, our animals and the environment. The ambition in our whole-of-industry Framework is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the global blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
Dairy businesses – both farms and processing – are the backbone of the economy and the community in many regions of the Murray Darling Basin.
Dairy production and processing in the Basin underpins Australia’s food security, producing 22% of Australia’s milk, a key source of nutrition in the Australian diet.
The region is ideally located for both export and domestic markets, with efficient connectivity through road, port and telecommunications infrastructure.
The following resources provide key data and insights into dairy’s presence in the Murray Darling Basin, and can be drawn on for stakeholder meetings, briefings and submissions.
Impacts of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan
In 2025 the dairy industry engaged global consultancy Ricardo to complete an independent, evidence-based analysis of the impact of water buybacks under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on the dairy industry.
The report was the first of its kind and found dairy communities face a severe and disproportionate threat from continued water buybacks.
This fact sheet provides a snapshot of dairy in the Murray Darling Basin and was updated in September 2023.
This document provides an overview and key data on dairy in the Murray Darling Basin. This document will be updated annually with new data. This version was created in September 2023.
This ADIC fact sheet provides the high-level findings from independent research on the impacts of water buybacks through the MDB Plan.
This document is the full Ricardo report on the impacts of water buyback through the MDB Plan to the dairy industry.
Dairy Sector Food Action Waste Plan Released in July 2023, the Plan outlines 10 key actions to reduce waste throughout the dairy supply chain. The Action Plan was developed collaboratively between the Australian Dairy Products Federation, Dairy Australia and Stop Food Waste Australia, with input from dairy businesses across the country.
The Path to Half The Path to Half explains the true cost of food waste in Victoria and provides the first Australian perspective on the impacts of food waste and food production on climate change, water loss and economic costs.
CEBIC Round 3 Thought Leadership event Designing our future using the ‘waste’ of the past. A thought-provoking and imaginative opening event to our series on reducing food waste.
Launching our Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre Sustainability entrepreneurs from Victoria, Australia and Chile shared how they built successful businesses that embrace circular economy and transformed market gaps into profitable opportunities.
National Food Waste Strategy The National Food Waste Strategy provides a framework to support collective action towards halving Australia’s food waste by 2030. The strategy identifies four priority areas where improvements can be made—policy support, business improvements, market development, and behaviour change.
The Australian Dairy Plan aims to drive a significant turnaround in the industry’s outlook through a range of bold initiatives targeting increased profitability, confidence, and unity over the next five years and beyond.
A joint initiative of Australian Dairy Farmers, ADPF, Dairy Australia and the Gardiner Dairy Foundation, the Plan aims to drive increased profitability, confidence, and unity within the dairy sector over the next five years – with key initiatives to increase Australia’s annual milk production by almost one billion litres, add $500 million of farmgate value for farmers, as well as help create thousands of new jobs. The Plan was informed by nationwide consultation with over 1,500 participants.
The Australian Dairy Plan promises to deliver on five key commitments:
The Milk Value Portal was a key initiative to deliver on Commitment 5 of the Australian Dairy Plan, in restoring trust and transparency between farmers and processors to strengthen industry confidence.
Click here to learn more about progress to date in delivering The Plan.
The Health Star Rating (HSR) system rates the nutritional profile of packaged food and gives each product a rating from ½ a star to 5 stars. The rating is calculated by food manufacturers then displayed on the front label of packaged foods. It is an easy and consistent way for shoppers to compare similar packaged foods.
How ratings are calculated
The number of stars displayed on the product is calculated using the Health Star Rating Calculator. The Calculator was developed in consultation with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and other technical and nutrition experts.
The Calculator balances positive nutrients with nutrients associated with risk factors for chronic disease. The number of stars shown for most products are based on:
More information on HSR can be found at www.healthstarrating.gov.au
Below provides a list of links to relevant information
An incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in Australia would come as a grave cost to the dairy industry.
In response to the heightened threat of FMD and LSD, the Australian dairy industry has enacted an emergency animal disease team.
The team is working closely with the Government, to help mitigate the risk of FMD from entering Australia.
To help the dairy industry keep up to date with information and resources on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease, Dairy Australia has launched a dedicated Emergency Animal Diseases page on their website.
This provides farmers and processors with the latest information to help prepare for and reduce the risk of outbreaks.
Click here to access the information: https://lnkd.in/grmi52RQ
Useful resources:
Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility.