GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN (June 25, 2025) — Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the country by milk volume, has announced the appointment of Jim Eckberg as the new Director of Science and Innovation.
Edge is committed to advancing sustainability and creating value for its members by collaborating with farmers and dairy business partners. In this new role, Eckberg will enhance this mission through sustainability program offerings for members, focusing on farmer-led solutions to meet industry sustainability goals.
Eckberg was a Senior Research Scientist in agricultural and food solutions at General Mills in Minneapolis, Minnesota, since 2019. While there, he focused on dairy sustainability, water quality, and biodiversity-conservation initiatives for the General Mills supply chain. He holds a PhD in Applied Plant Sciences from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and collaborates with teams of scientists and faculty to publish on various topics, including production agriculture, biodiversity and water conservation and sustainable food systems.
“The real solutions to sustainability will come from farmer-led innovation. Science and data can help bring this value to the food industry and make sustainability a part of the way we do business,” Eckberg said.
“Adding Jim to our team is a significant step forward for our organization and affiliates’ sustainability services,” Tim Trotter, Edge CEO, said. “With his scientific background and research experience, we are confident he will bring valuable strategic insights and technical expertise to our team.”
About Edge:
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers and within their communities. Edge, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, is one of the top cooperatives in the country based on milk volume. Member farms are located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. For more information, visit edgedairy.com.
