Learning from World Dairy Summit, 2018

“ The global expertise which gathered at the World Dairy Summit 2018 infused greater scientific knowledge and technical understanding among the members and industry players to keep abreast of international developments in the dairy sector. The milk producers, processors, cooperatives and dairy related organizations had the benefit of learning from their counterparts from other countries and benchmark themselves against the global success of leading brands.

The country men and especially the dairymen of India should be delighted to learn that the International Dairy Federation has assigned the 2022 World Dairy Summit to New Delhi. This was a long cherished desire of most of the dairy professionals, industry groups, researchers and dairy farmers of India that such an event should have been organized in India long time ago. The last World Dairy Congress was held in New Delhi during 1974. Indian dairying has made tremendous progress in total milk production with huge investments in chilling and processing infrastructure, new product development, plants and equipments manufacturing and commercial production of animal feeds and veterinary drugs and vaccines to take care of animal health and welfare. Biotechnological techniques are increasingly being utilized for improved reproduction and rapid propagation of elite dairy animals. With India having attained the first place in milk production in the World several years ago, a strong need was felt that the nation must show case its achievements to world community. The central government's budget allocations in recent time for accelerating growth rate in agriculture and animal production have driven the production trajectories to higher heights. Hopefully, during next four years, before the WDS 2022 takes place, India will make bigger strides in dairy development. With the present growth rate, India will produce about 180 million tones of milk by the end of this financial year.

The WDS 2018 attracted about two thousand global experts to deliberate upon the theme “Dairy for the Next Generation”. Around 120 speakers in 40 sessions outlined the contribution of dairying in the creation of employment and generation of income besides the role of milk in nutrition and health, food security and safety as well as sustainability Former UN Secretary General Ben K. Moon said that milk is critical and essential for combating poverty and hunger and to construct a sustainable world where humanity can enjoy better education, healthcare and equality. Special sessions were held on the school milk feeding programme, nutrition and health, food safety, environment, farm management, animal health and welfare, dairy policies and economics, and marketing.

The ISO Secretary General emphasized upon the continued need for globally harmonized standards and rules to facilitate international business. The safety and quality of products must always be based on science based risk assessments. Consumers willingness to purchase a food will decline with any perceived food safety risk like a new contaminant or a potential new toxin. Consumers’ choices are influenced by feelings to avoid pain, suffering and worry.

IDF President Dr. Judith Bryans mentioned that school milk programmes provide children around the world with the nutrients they need to have them grow and develop healthy. Good eating habits which will last a life time will begin from early age food progamme. All children around the world, whether rich or poor deserve to have access to good and culturally acceptable and affordable nutritious food so that they do not go hungry. School milk programme would ensure concentration on studies and education and increase the number of days in attendance. It may be desirable to add dairy products made from milk in the milk matrix.

While talking about the global dairy sector, it was brought out that dairy product market has steadily been increasing from around 270 billion euros in 2007 to 427 billion euros in 2017. The marketing opportunities largely lie in the Asian-pacific region fuelled by population growth and increased purchasing power of middle class. Latin American countries, Africa and middle-east will offer market prospects. World is witnessing rise in investments in speciality cheeses and value added products in the US, Russia and Ireland to meet increasing demands from Asia.

The global expertise which gathered at the World Dairy Summit 2018 infused greater scientific knowledge and technical understanding among the members and industry players to keep abreast of international developments in the dairy sector. The milk producers, processors, cooperatives and dairy related organizations had the benefit of learning from their counterparts from other countries and benchmark themselves against the global success of leading brands. The Summit facilitated the cross-fertilization of ideas to generate practical solutions to improve dairy quality and outputs.

The issue of Veterinary drug residues in milk required robust analytical methods for screening and identification as per regulations on drug residues with established levels. Rapid antibiotic residue testing kits were displayed in the exhibition. The World Dairy Summit released the report on World Dairy Situation 2018 which the readers may please find on the website of IDF.

The next World Dairy Summit is scheduled in Istanbul from 23 to 26 September, 2019. Ms. Caroline Emond, IDF Director General, looks forward to seeing large numbers of Indian delegates at Istanbul. The copy of Istanbul World Dairy Summit programme is available at IDA House.