As the recognized global voice of dairy and the leading source of expertise and scientific knowledge, the International Dairy Federation (IDF) has taken the initiative in developing a declaration to reiterate and reinforce the dairy sector’s commitment to a sustainable transformation of the whole value chain. This document was presented at the end of the IDF World Dairy Summit 2024 in Paris, France, on 18 October.

IDF subscribes to FAO’s definition of sustainability by which being sustainable means to meet the needs of present and future generations, while ensuring profitability, environmental health, and social and economic equity. Therefore, sustainable food and agriculture (SFA) should contribute to all four pillars of food security – availability, access, utilization, and stability – and the dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social, and economic). This involves all actors of the dairy value chain, from farm to fork, including all farmers and processors whether small, medium or large, cooperatives, dairy workers and leaders, scientists and experts, traders, dairy unions and anyone engaged in the process of producing dairy in the widest sense of the term, whom IDF represents all over the world. We understand that this implies global challenges but local solutions.

Mark Keller, Interim CEO of the National Dairy Council said,

“Dairy is a highly nutritious food which we need to promote and protect in light of the environmental challenges that we face. As an extraordinarily successful indigenous industry in Ireland, we need to continue to promote the benefits of dairy as part of a sustainable diet. It covers three major priorities being affordable, nutritious, and accessible, vital to feeding 6 billion people around the world. In Ireland, our dairy farmers are fully committed to farm more sustainably on a journey to lower emissions with the targets laid out by the UN by 2030. This will require a unified effort by the dairy industry in Ireland and every other country around the world”

It should be recognized as one of the most important sources of basic nutrients for quality nutrition which builds up to its unequalled capacity to nourish 6 Billion people worldwide, as well as the fact that it generates livelihoods to 1 Billion people around the globe.

Building on the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam of 2016, in which the global dairy sector unitedly declared its engagement to the UN 2030 Agenda, this initiative continues the journey by showcasing the actions undertaken by the dairy actors, acknowledging that even if much has been done it’s still not enough and as we are only 6 years away of 2030 time is running out and we should accelerate our efforts.  Agriculture in general and dairy in particular have specific challenges as they are directly involved in SDG2: Zero Hunger.

In this regards, IDF Director General, Laure Rycken says: “The global dairy sector must continue the journey to answer the call of the 2030 agenda in less than 6 years, to showcase how it has taken its responsibility on and acted upon the challenges”.

The IDF Paris Declaration on Sustainability will bring to light the tangible commitments undertaken by dairy operators toward the various pillars of sustainability (climate change, nutrition, health, economic security, natural resources stewardship, etc.) and sends a clear message to governments, decision-makers, and the public on the dynamism of the dairy sector. This resonated during the IDF Dairy Leaders Forum where actors across the dairy value chain shared their work/initiative.

However, the dairy sector cannot undertake this on its own and needs enabling environments to leverage and scale up the actions in order to reach the set goals. It should be recognized as one of the most important sources of basic nutrients for quality nutrition which builds up to its unequalled capacity to nourish 6 Billion people worldwide, as well as the fact that it generates livelihoods to 1 Billion people around the globe.

“This enormous service to humanity cannot be compromised and should be considered as a priority within any conversation involving the global dairy sector”, says IDF President, Piercristiano Brazzale, “and certainly a public-private dialogue on the role of Dairy to tackle global challenges is necessary at this point in time”, he adds, and sends a strong call to action: “We, the global dairy sector need the support of IGOs, governments and other stakeholders to continue unfolding the boundless potential that we have to help cope with the UN SDGS on a timely manner”.

By signing this declaration together with FAO, like we did in 2016, IDF partners with the world’s highest authority in Food and Agriculture. IDF wishes to call all member countries delegations, dairy leaders, and stakeholders to endorse this document but above all to commit themselves to engage in every effort to live up to the challenge of achieving the goals on time, by leveraging the vast potential of the dairy sector in every corner of the globe.

For further information, please contact Cathy Curran on 086 8777 664 or ccurran@ndc.ie.