For millions of Americans, putting a healthy meal on the table has become more difficult than ever. Rising prices and limited access to nutritious food are widening the gap, with one in seven households experiencing food insecurity and one in five children at risk of lifelong health impacts. But across the country, new collaborations and innovations are helping communities find new ways to make nutritious food more affordable and accessible, and American Dairy is leading the way.
The stakes are high. Food-insecure families often purchase fewer calories and consume lower-quality diets, affecting growth, development, and long-term health. And while the “food as medicine” movement is transforming the health of some people, the benefits still fall short for families struggling to afford basic groceries.
This is where the U.S. dairy industry is combining scale, science and collaboration to help close nutrition gaps.
Nutrition Access Mobilization
Through the U.S. Dairy Innovation Center, farmers, cooperatives, processors and other partners work together to strengthen community resilience and ensure reliable access to affordable, nutritious food.
“As an industry, we are allies in the fight against hunger,” says Katie Bambacht, vice president of nutrition at the National Dairy Council (NDC). “Advancing food and nutrition security is a fundamental part of our social responsibility. By working with partners in the public, private and non-profit sectors, we are helping ensure that nutrient-dense foods, like dairy, reach the communities that need them most.”
The Power of Dairy Nutrition
For about 22 cents per 8-ounce serving, milk provides 13 essential nutrients, including protein, calcium, vitamin D, and B vitamins. Dairy products provide more than 50% of Americans’ calcium and vitamin D intake and nearly one-fifth of their protein, making them one of the most cost-effective sources of complete nutrition.
The role of dairy products in supporting healthy growth, immune and gut function, cognition and long-term health continues to be confirmed. To share and expand science, the Innovation Center collaborates with academic, nonprofit and industry partners through efforts such as the Dairy Nourishes America Toolkit, a digital resource guide created in partnership with Feeding America to increase access to dairy products in food banks.
The toolkit and other similar initiatives help raise awareness of nutritional security, a concept that emphasizes the importance of food quality beyond calories and consistent access to safe, healthy and affordable options.
partnership provided
The role of American dairy products in nutritional security continues through long-standing partnerships, including Feeding America, which distributed 471 million pounds of dairy products to families in 2025.
“Dairy is one of the most requested and least donated food groups among the neighbors we serve,” said Jerod Matthews, senior product director for dairy at Feeding America. “Access to nutritious foods like milk, yogurt and cheese can make a meaningful difference for families facing food insecurity. Through our partnerships with the dairy community, we are helping alleviate hunger today and supporting long-term health tomorrow.”
spotlight: through Milk 2 My Plate Through the program, Northern Illinois Food Bank and Prairie Farms deliver more than 25,000 gallons of milk to Illinois families each month. It is a model that is now inspiring other local food bank partnerships across the country.
Innovation that expands accessibility
Food and nutrition security depends on more than donations. Structural improvements are needed in the way nutritious food is produced and transported. The dairy industry is investing in value chain upgrades, including optimized cold chain logistics, extending the shelf life of dairy products, and strengthening ties with local food bank networks.
These innovations help ensure that more milk, yogurt and cheese reliably reaches underserved communities, while allowing processors and farmers to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. As evidenced by the Innovation Center’s work, advancing nutritional security is a common industry priority to “deliver dairy nutrition that meets new, personalized health needs and strengthen nutritional security in the United States and around the world.”
spotlight: Processors and cooperatives participating in the US Dairy Stewardship Commitment are adopting new technologies to reduce food waste and improve distribution efficiency. This is an advancement that makes nutritious dairy products more affordable and accessible.
A shared commitment to nutritional security
The success of the Innovation Center comes from collaboration. By uniting farmers, food manufacturers and NGOs, the dairy community is creating scalable solutions that address both immediate hunger and long-term health.
As populations grow and food costs rise, this commitment is more important than ever. Now is the time for industry leaders, retailers, and community partners to build on proven models and expand access to affordable nutrition year-round.
Food insecurity is not limited to hunger. It’s about lost potential. Communities thrive when families have consistent access to affordable, nutritious food. The Innovation Center is demonstrating what is possible when science, sustainability and compassion work together. Because access to nutritious food makes all communities stronger.
Learn more at usdairy.com/about-us/innovation-center and join the effort to make nutritional security a lasting reality.
