About the NDC

National Dairy Council (NDC) was established by the Minister of Agriculture in 1964, as a semi-state body. The Council changed from a semi-state body to a private farmer funded organisation in 1973 subsequent to Ireland joining the EEC. The NDC has been behind many well-known campaigns from “Butter is the Cream” to the famous TV ad of “Dem Bones, Dem Bones Need Calcium” and has played a significant role in communicating the benefits of dairy produce to the Irish consumer.

The National Dairy Council (NDC) champions the role of sustainable, quality, pasture-based dairy production and its nutrition benefits in supporting healthier and more active living.

We are a farmer-funded representative body that works to promote and protect Ireland’s internationally-renowned dairy reputation for excellent products, sustainably produced. We believe in a future in which Irish dairy is recognised and trusted as a vital part of people’s diet, indispensable to Ireland’s social and economic wellbeing. All of our actions are built on a comprehensive understanding of dairy’s role across the life-stages, supporting and using research to answer important questions about dairy products, how they are produced and their role as part of a balanced diet. The NDC plays a vital role in shaping Irish public opinion on dairy production & products. We have a proven track record in promoting dairy products but now we need to actively promote farmers and dairy farming’s social license to operate in Ireland.

One Dairy Voice

A future in which Irish Dairy is recognised and trusted as a vital part of people’s diet and general health across the life stages, indispensable to Ireland’s social and economic wellbeing.
Connecting the Farmer and the Consumer

The NDC will re-connect the dairy farmer with the dairy consumer, encouraging a greater understanding of what the farmer does and what it takes to do it and thereby building trust in the production system and restoring pride in Irish dairy.

HEALTH & NUTRITION

The NDC will promote the nutritional benefits of dairy products and their place in a healthy, balanced and sustainable diet, countering myths and misinformation and being an easily accessible source of dietary and nutritional information, as well as recipe and serving suggestions.

Research and Understanding
The NDC will use qualitative and quantitative research – proprietary and third-party – to measure sentiment, behaviours and attitudes, gauging the impact of its own activities and adjusting their strategic direction as necessary.
Dairy Sustainability
The NDC will raise awareness of Irish dairy’s impact against the four pillars of sustainability – economy, society, community and environment – to develop understanding of what sustainability means for Irish dairy and showcase some of the key initiatives that are improving the industry’s performance.
Made in the Republic of Ireland
The NDC will provide consumers with the opportunity to show their support for the Irish economy and for Irish jobs – on dairy farms and in the wider dairy sector – and the reassurance of knowing that dairy products with the NDC Guarantee are both farmed and processed locally.
champions of the future
The NDC will champion the Irish dairy industry’s social licence to produce – the public’s tacit agreement that dairy produce and dairy farming are central to Irish society and to the health of the nation and that dairy farming and dairy farmers should be assured of their long-term futures.

Manifesto

Please read our Manifesto to find out more about our work and how we champion the role of sustainable, quality, pasture-based dairy production and its nutrition benefits.