Future Valio Farmers supports young dairy farm entrepreneurs
The Future Valio Farmers training programme, a joint initiative of Valio and the cooperatives, is aimed at young dairy farmers or those who are interested in the sector. The aim is to support young entrepreneurs in becoming top professionals in their field and to equip them with the skills needed to manage a modern farm. An equally important part of the programme is networking with others in a similar life situation.
The programme, launched in the spring of 2025, was awarded as the best cooperative innovation in Europe. In a competition organized by Cogeca, Europe’s General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives, the programme won the Social Value Creation category. Its strengths were seen in particular in strengthening communities and inspiring and encouraging the next generation of farmers.
The key components of the two-year training program are:
- Management skills: The training focuses on dairy farm financial management, production management, employer skills, and communication.
- Strategic planning: Participants create a development plan for their farm and reflect on their business strategy.
- Networking: An important part of the program is getting to know future colleagues and networking with others in a similar life situation.
- Diverse methods: The programme includes in-person sessions, intermediate assignments between sessions, a development visit organized by the cooperative, company visits, and a study trip.
Why is it important to support young farmers?
The transformation of agriculture, growing farm sizes, and changing requirements are making the day-to-day life of farmers more challenging than ever. Through this training programme, Valio aims to secure Finnish milk production and make the industry more attractive to young people. In Finland, the average age of dairy farmers is over 50, so there is a need for young, innovative talent in the industry.
Interest in the program exceeded our expectations, and we were able to enrol 100 people interested in dairy farming in the first Future Valio Farmers training group. The training will continue on a regular basis.