New Zealand is a fantastic place for producing grass-fed organic dairy. We’ve got the ideal climate, location, and environment for pasture-based organic farming.
Which is why we have a segregated organic milk pool within our wider co-op, enabling us to provide certified organic grass-fed dairy ingredients to our customers who seek premium organic propositions.
Our Organic Difference
We’ve combined the benefits of New Zealand pasture-based dairy farming with the core principles of organic agriculture.
To gain organic certification our farmers farm without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, antibiotics and GMOs meeting the strict requirements of a range of organic standards.
Additionally, thanks to New Zealand’s temperate climate, our New Zealand farmers’ organic cows have access to grass and pasture year-round. With more than 99% of their diet coming from a variety of nutritious pasture species in the form of grass, silage, hay and forage crops, such as legumes and brassicas.
Farming organically means our farmers must ensure all feed provided to their cows is organic certified. Growing their feed on farm is a great way to do this. Most of our farmers' cows' diet is comprised of pasture grazed directly in the paddock, but some farmers store excess feed to give to animals at times of the year when grass growth is slower.
New Zealand Dairy Grass-Fed Administrative Standard
The New Zealand Government’s Ministry for Primary Industries has created a standard to define what constitutes a grass-fed system in New Zealand. It specifies the requirements and attributes that must be met for grass-fed certification to be issued.
Fonterra is proud that our New Zealand organic milk is verified as meeting the requirements of the New Zealand Dairy Grass-Fed Administrative Standard, giving our customers and consumers greater trust and confidence in our Organic claims.
Meeting the New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard
This standard requires that the below minimum requirements must be met:
- Cows must have a diet which constitutes, on a 3-year rolling average, at least 90% (freshweight) qualifying grass-fed feed types.
- Cows must on average graze pasture or forage crops at least 340-days per year for at least 8-hours per day.
For more information on the New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard visit NZ Grass-Fed Administrative Standard | NZ Government.
Third Party Certification
Fonterra’s New Zealand milk pool (including our segregated organic milk pool) is third-party certified annually by AsureQuality, an independent Conformity Assessment Body (CAB). New Zealand Government owned AsureQuality is accredited by the Joint Accreditation System for Australia and New Zealand (JASANZ) to verify Fonterra’s Trusted Goodness Scheme as meeting the requirements of the New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard.
Our Fonterra Organic Grass-fed Performance
Fonterra’s data shows our New Zealand farmers’ organic cows that comprise our organic milk pool are on average, greater than 99% grass-fed and have access to pasture 365 days a year for at least 4 hours per day¹.
Greater than 99% is an average measured over the previous three seasons' data², calculated on a “as consumed” basis. Grass-fed means cows mainly grazing on grass and crops in paddocks. Some farmers may use organic supplementary feed (from New Zealand and or imported sources) and temporarily remove cows from pasture to support their nutrition and welfare needs. Fonterra uses the terms ‘grass’ and ‘pasture’ interchangeably. Grass includes grass, grass silage, hay and forage crops (including legumes and brassicas), this is consistent with the grass-fed feed types in the New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard.
¹ When assessed against the New Zealand Grass-Fed standard, our New Zealand farmers’ organic cows graze pasture or forage crops on average for 363-days per year for at least 8 hours per day.
² A dairy season runs from 1 June to 31 May in any year. The three year rolling figure is calculated using the last 3 complete seasons data (2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 seasons).
Organic Grass and Pasture Fed FAQs
What does grass-fed mean for our Organic Milk Pool?
Grass-fed means cows mainly grazing on grass and crops in paddocks where they roam. On average, our Fonterra New Zealand organic cows consume greater than 99% grass, and have access to pasture 365 days a year. Some farmers may use organic supplementary feed (from New Zealand and or imported sources) and temporarily remove cows from pasture to support their nutrition and welfare needs.
Fonterra uses the terms ‘grass’ and ‘pasture’ interchangeably. Grass includes grass, grass silage, hay and forage crops (including legumes and brassicas), this is consistent with the grass-fed feed types defined in the New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard.
We measure the grass-fed diet “as consumed” by our cows, which is consistent with “freshweight” defined in the New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard. This data is reported at a Fonterra NZ milk pool level and is reviewed annually.
For more information on the New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard visit NZ Grass-Fed Administrative Standard | NZ Government.
Does Fonterra’s Organic Grass & Pasture Fed Standard reflect the New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard?
Yes. The Fonterra Trusted Goodness Scheme has been assessed as having met the criteria recognised by the Ministry for Primary Industries under the New Zealand Dairy Grass-Fed Administrative Standard. Fonterra has an established Organic Grass and Pasture-Fed Standard. Since its establishment in 2023, Fonterra’s Organic Standard defines the minimum requirements for the consumption of grass and time spent on pasture for Fonterra New Zealand organic dairy cows.
Who is the Ministry for Primary Industries?
Ministry for Primary Industries is a New Zealand government agency that is focused on supporting the success of primary industries in New Zealand. Please visit https://www.govt.nz/organisations/ministry-for-primary-industries/ for more information.
Is there a way to independently confirm Fonterra's Trusted Goodness Scheme is recognised as meeting the New Zealand government-backed definition of New Zealand grass-fed?
Yes. Approved schemes are listed on a public register maintained by the Ministry for Primary Industries on their website: NZ Grass-Fed Administrative Standard | NZ Government.
Is Fonterra's Organic Grass & Pasture Fed Standard independently certified?
Yes. Our New Zealand Organic Milk pool is third party certified against the Fonterra Organic Grass & Pasture Fed Standard annually by AsureQuality, an independent Conformity Assessment Body (CAB). In 2025, our Fonterra Trusted Goodness scheme has been assessed as having met the criteria to be recognised by Ministry for Primary Industries under the New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard.
I buy NZMP ingredients – can I make a grass-fed claim?
Like any other claim, you are in control of the claims you wish to make and we are here to help - Learn more about how we support you through our Natural Dairy Claims programme.
Who is AsureQuality?
AsureQuality provides food assurance and biosecurity services to the food and primary production sectors worldwide. Wholly owned by the New Zealand Government, AsureQuality has built a solid reputation for delivering expert services and value to the entire food supply chain in over 40 countries worldwide.
AsureQuality is accredited by the Joint Accreditation System for Australia and New Zealand (JASANZ) as a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB), enabling the independent third party certification of customer systems and/or products to a very wide range of certification standards, including ISO 17065, ISO 9001 , ISO 14001, ISO 22000, FSSC, FSSC-Q, FMS, BRC, SQF, Global GAP, and Organics, as well as various other schemes.
How does Fonterra know it complies with the requirements of the New Zealand Grass-Fed standard?
Fonterra requires all Fonterra New Zealand farmers to provide data on feed and farm practices. The data we collect from our organic farmers is used to determine compliance of the Fonterra New Zealand organic milk pool against the requirements of the Fonterra Organic Grass & Pasture Fed Standard and any exceptions that may have occurred.
Who governs the Fonterra Organic Grass & Pasture Fed Standard?
The Fonterra Organic Grass and Pasture-Fed Standard is governed by the Trusted Goodness Scheme Owners group. This group is comprised of representative stakeholders, including Fonterra Management, AsureQuality (Certification Body), representatives from the Farm Dairy Contracted Service Provider, a group of Fonterra Farmers for supplier representation, and Fonterra Subject Matter Experts for each individual Fonterra standard. This group meets annually to review the performance and integrity of the standard and helps to ensure the continuous improvement of this standard.