The partnership, taking place in perpetuity, underscores a shared commitment to developing future leaders in agriculture, animal health, farm systems, and the equine industries.
The Danone scholarships – for academic, practical and hardship - will provide financial support and industry connection opportunities for students pursuing qualifications across Telford’s specialist programmes. The initiative reflects both organisations’ recognition of the critical role education plays in supporting sustainable, innovative, and resilient food production systems.
A Partnership for the Future of Farming
Danone, a global leader in sustainably produced dairy nutrition, brings a strong focus on environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and regenerative agricultural practices. Through the scholarship programme, Danone is investing directly in the next generation of agricultural professionals who will shape the future of farming in New Zealand and beyond.
“Danone is committed to supporting farmers and advancing sustainable agriculture,” Beverly Cobos, Danone’s Balclutha Plant Manager said.
“By partnering with SIT Telford, we want to help the next generation of skilled graduates understand the importance of animal health, farm system optimisation, and responsible land management. These scholarships are key to ensuring a workforce with passionate people who can help drive meaningful and sustainable change across the sector.”
Telford: A National Leader in Land-Based Education
SIT’s Telford campus has a long-standing reputation as a centre of excellence for practical, industry-focused education in agriculture and rural industries. Offering hands-on training and applied learning, Telford equips students with the knowledge and skills required to succeed in a rapidly evolving sector.
Programmes at Telford span a wide range of disciplines, including:
Telford’s immersive learning environment ensures graduates are work-ready, with strong practical competencies and a deep understanding of modern farming systems.
Supporting Talent and Access
The Danone scholarships will help remove financial barriers for high-achieving students, ensuring that talented individuals from across New Zealand can access Telford’s specialised training. Students at SIT already enjoy the Zero Fees Scheme, with the Danone scholarships amplifying the benefit to cover any additional study costs.
“We are delighted to partner with Danone on this important initiative,” said Allan Roxburgh, Telford Campus Manager.
“These scholarships not only support our students financially but also signal confidence in the quality of education delivered at Telford. Together, we are nurturing capability across agriculture, animal health, farm systems, and equine sectors — all essential to the future of our primary industries.”
Building Industry-Ready Graduates
Beyond financial assistance, the scholarships are expected to strengthen industry engagement, offering recipients valuable exposure to global best practices and potential career pathways within leading organisations such as Danone.
The collaboration reflects a broader commitment to ensuring New Zealand’s primary sector remains globally competitive, environmentally responsible, and socially sustainable.
Hamish Small, Head of Faculty, said the partnership emphasised how vocational training and industry can work together to ensure those learners who are focussed on the primary industry profession can get past possible barriers to meet their career aspirations. “Telford cannot thank Danone enough for their commitment and ongoing support to land-based education.”
The scholarship applications are available now to current students on all campus programmes, with applications closing the first week of June. Interviews will be held in June, and the three successful students will be awarded their scholarships this year.