The global nature of dairy development

This year’s IFCN Dairy Conference explored the past, present and future of sustainable dairy development.

In presentations by Global Dairy Platform, Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock and FAO Livestock information, it was pointed out that joint efforts have to be taken to bring dairy development forward.

Torsten Hemme, managing director of the IFCN comments, “Dairy development happens in every country at different levels and has potential to be more strategic in the future.”

From the private sector, multiple dairy processors are undertaking national and international projects towards social development in the nexus of feeding and feed production, livestock performance, animal health, environmental footprint.

Three main outcomes were drawn up from the IFCN Dairy Conference. Firstly, to employ a business approach. Dairy development should create value following business and market oriented approaches for farmers, processors and the broader value chain.

Secondly, leadership needs to be under the responsibility of private organisations in developed countries and through public-private partnerships in developing countries.

Finally, fitting dairy development programmes depend primarily on the current status of the country or region. Data, metrics and impact analysis are crucial to define the right strategy.