USDEC research identifies women-led initiatives that have improved quality, sparked innovation, and driven growth.   

Women are taking the global dairy, food, and grocery industries by the horns—and making them even better. This is as true around the world as it is here in the United States. A study last year by the U.S. Dairy Export Council’s (USDEC’s) Strategic Insights team revealed the immense impact of women on the dairy, food, and grocery industries in their respective countries.

As part of the USDEC’s U.S. Dairy Brand Health Assessment, the Strategic Insights team interviewed 38 dairy buyers from 12 countries to explore women’s progress in the dairy industry, opportunities for improvement, and programs supporting women’s advancement and successes. The research was timely, aligning with a United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer—a declaration that brought about the launch of a global campaign aimed at recognizing women’s contributions to food systems and promoting policies that close gender gaps in agriculture.

“Women have really made huge leaps in all aspects of the dairy industry,” said Krysta Harden, USDEC president and CEO. “Here in the U.S., of course, it’s not unusual to see women thriving in leadership roles in the dairy industry. And while that may not be the norm in other countries, we are starting to glimpse a positive shift.”

Women leading both on and off the farm
The interviews revealed many examples of progress where women achieved success in dairy farming, market expansion, innovation, and leadership. Here are a few:

• Women farmers in China have gained recognition through several successful projects. One Chinese farm, led by a woman, increased milk sales by 30% by joining a farmer cooperative, a group of small farms that pool resources and bargaining power, and selling directly to consumers through online platforms, bypassing traditional middlemen. Partnerships with female ranchers in New Zealand have delivered higher rates of milk passing quality inspections on the first check, reducing waste and improving reliability for buyers. Women-initiated alliances, such as the Women's Organic Pasture Alliance, reported 6,000 to 8,000 metric tons of annual carbon dioxide reductions and internationally recognized organic certifications.
  
  
• In 2023, a four-woman procurement team at China Resources Vanguard led an imported cheese project, combining cheese and wine pairings with baked-goods tastings. The activity lifted cheese sales by 60% and won a China Retail Innovation Award.
  
  
• At China's Mengniu Dairy, a women-led research and development team created low-lactose cheese sticks designed for the many consumers in China who struggle to digest traditional dairy. The product achieved nearly $120 million in sales in 2025.
  
  
• When a team of women researchers from a Chinese industrial baked goods manufacturer set out to make bread more nutritious, they didn't just tweak a recipe, they rethought the ingredients entirely. The R&D team experimented with different blends of whey protein to develop a specialized ingredient for high-protein bread, ultimately boosting the protein content from 8g to 12g per 100g or product—a 50% increase. The innovation earned the 2024 China Baking Industry Innovation Gold Award and has since been applied to a line of high-end fitness crackers, driving 35% annual sales growth.
  
  
• At Lawson Shanghai, a popular Japanese-style convenience store chain operating across China, a four-woman team is reshaping what convenience foods look like. Drawing on their deep understanding of Chinese consumer tastes, they developed products like cheese onigiri, a Japanese rice ball reimagined with cheese for the Chinese palate, and high-protein snack bars. The team launched five new products that together reached roughly $12 million in sales in 2024.

“One thing this research surfaced was progress happening at both ends of the spectrum simultaneously: women leading at the farm level and at the CEO level,” says Megan Sheets, vice president, Strategic Insights, USDEC. “Seeing that kind of movement across the value chain, even in a single round of interviews, was notable.”

Women leading dairy companies to new heights
East and Southeast Asia has seen some women rise to the top position in major dairy companies that are household names in their respective countries. Their success underlines the impact women are making in the industry.

• Mai Kieu Lien has led Vietnam's popular dairy brand, Vinamilk, since 1992, growing it from a domestic staple into an international powerhouse. Under her leadership, the company went public in 2006 and has since expanded into markets across the Middle East and Europe, growing exports by 12% in 2024. Fortune magazine has recognized her as one of the most powerful women in Asia multiple times, most recently in 2025.
  
  
• At South Korea's Maeil Dairies, Kim Seon-hee made history in 2014 as the first female CEO in the country's dairy industry—and she holds the title of vice chairman as well. Under her leadership, Maeil launched Selex, the company's protein supplement brand, while also building a workplace culture that supports women with childcare assistance, flexible hours, and a commitment to promoting employees even after parental leave. Today, women make up the majority of Maeil's workforce.

Across 12 countries, the through-line of the research was consistent: where companies have deliberately created pathways for women, whether through mentorship, flexible policies, or procurement partnerships, the business results follow.

Says Harden, “As the world marks the International Year of the Woman Farmer, these stories offer a compelling reminder that, for some, women's leadership in dairy is not just a goal to work toward but is already a reality and delivering results.”

For a deeper look at the progress and opportunities identified, read the blog post, "Women are reshaping global dairy—but this work isn't done."

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The U.S. Dairy Export Council fosters collaborative industry partnerships with processors, trading companies and others to enhance global demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients. USDEC is primarily supported by Dairy Management Inc. through the dairy farmer checkoff. How to republish this post.