Chile welcomes the IDF World Dairy Summit 2025

With a call to lead the future of the global dairy sector, Gilles Froment, president of the International Dairy Federation (IDF), welcomed over 800 participants from 44 countries to the official opening of the IDF World Dairy Summit 2025.

For the first time in its 123-year history, the International Dairy Federation has brought its annual summit to South America. From 20-23 October, Santiago is the host city for the IDF WDS Chile 2025, organized by the IDF-Chile National Committee, which includes the Ministry of Agriculture, Consorcio Lechero and Fedeleche.

The opening day featured a key session on the Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability, a joint initiative by IDF and FAO aimed at accelerating the global transformation of the dairy sector toward sustainability. The summit’s theme, “Nurturing a Sustainable World,” was central to the opening remarks delivered by Froment.

“Chile’s selection as host for this year’s IDF World Dairy Summit reflects not only the dynamism and evolution of its dairy industry, but also its deep commitment to sustainability, innovation and international collaboration. This summit is a tribute to Chile’s remarkable progress and a powerful platform to inspire the next wave of development across Latin America and emerging dairy regions worldwide,” Froment stated.

FAO assistant director-general Thanawat Tiensin emphasised the critical role of dairy in global nutrition and development, noting, “Dairy products nourish billions, supporting child development, family health and community resilience. As production faces rising demand and climate challenges, innovation is key. Together, we can achieve better production, nutrition, environment and lives for all, leaving no one behind.”

Chile’s minister of agriculture, Ignacia Fernández, highlighted the country’s dairy sector and its sustainability vision, saying, “Recent years have seen strong production thanks to favourable pasture conditions, but climate change brings uncertainty. Investment in innovation, research and technology is vital to improve sustainability and productivity standards, precisely the kind of discussions we’re having at this summit, and which we address through initiatives like Chile Origen Consciente.”

Sergio Niklitschek, president of the organising committee and of Consorcio Lechero, underscored the summit’s value, “This is a unique opportunity to renew our knowledge, explore the future of dairy over the next decade and expand our global network of connections.”

The inaugural day also featured the World Leaders Forum, with global industry voices including Antonia Wanner, global head of sustainability at Nestlé; Claudio Rodríguez Huaco, CEO of Grupo Gloria; and Andrew Hoggard, New Zealand’s minister for biosecurity and food safety, among others.

Additionally, the World Dairy Situation Report session provided key insights into global dairy trends, moderated by Helle Huseby (Norway) and presented by Octavio Oltra (Chile), Jean Marc Chaumet (France), Hubertus Gay (OECD) and Jean Christophe Salles, regional CEO of IPSOS.