Tour 1: Dairy Research and Farm (Manawatu, North Island)

Fonterra Research & Development Centre 

Step Inside the Future of Dairy Science at the Fonterra Research & Development Centre

Discover where Fonterra shapes the future of dairy. The Fonterra Research & Development Centre (FRDC) in Palmerston North is one of the world’s largest dairy research and development centres, home to more than 350 experts advancing nutrition, product performance, and manufacturing innovation. Your visit includes a rare opportunity to access several of our most advanced capability areas. 

Tour Details

• Pilot Plant — Turning Ideas into Scalable Reality. See where Fonterra takes new concepts from the lab and looks at how they can be scaled up ready for full manufacture — from benchtop prototypes to commercial‑ready processes.
• Product Experience Sciences — Understanding What People Taste, Feel, and Value. Discover how sensory science, consumer insights, and advanced analytical tools guide the products and solutions enjoyed around the world.
•  Advanced Microscopy — Seeing Dairy in a New Light. Gain a close‑up look at the structures and interactions that shape product quality, performance, and nutrition.
• Food Lab- Where Culinary Creativity Meets Technical Excellence. Explore the space where chefs and scientists co‑create new applications and innovations for customers across global foodservice and ingredient applications.

Farm Visit

• A large‑scale, fourth‑generation family dairy farm.
• Recognised for award‑winning environmental and responsible‑dairying practices.
• Features an impressive native bush restoration project.
• Includes an on‑site tanker collection demonstration.