Milk is the Elixir of Life – Concludes World Dairy Summit-2019

“ Dairy eradicates poverty and empowers rural women. It creates new jobs for the unemployed youths. The Conference took note of dwindling interest of young people in dairy farming because they seek other career pathways which are more attractive and professionally remunerative. Fortunately, this phenomenon is not so serious in India. In fact, many young entrepreneurs and new start‐ups in India are entering dairy field because dairy as a profession is more lucrative.

T he four day World Dairy Summit (WDS) 2019 organized by the International Dairy Federation (IDF) concluded in Turkey’s Istanbul on 26 September, 2019. It saw the presence of about 1300 dairy leaders from 55 countries of the world to discuss the science and technology, challenges and opportunities for dairy sector. The participants comprised of IDF members, government agencies, experts, scientists, academia, dairy processors, cooperative farmers, policy makers and other stakeholders. The theme of the WDS was ‘Milk for Life’ and the accompanying role played by milk in meeting the nutritional requirements of the old and new generations. The Summit discussed sustaining dairy goals and the challenges currently faced by the dairy sector on a global basis.

Several sessions discussed the matters related with sustainability, role of sugar and protein in daily diets, impact of dairying on environment, marketing, food safety and quality management, products standards and animal health and welfare. WDS witnessed the launch of a few new publications like the IDF Bulletin on World Dairy Situation 2019. The sustainability of dairying requires that the farmers change their dairy farm operating practices to bring about higher efficiency in milk production. The value chain should generate sufficient funds for the stake holders to reinvest. About 60 per cent of the crop wastes are not at all suitable for human consumption and, therefore, animals have a great role to play in the proper conversion of crop residues and enough scope is provided to utilize this waste into sustainable nutrition to feed the world as the International demand for milk and milk products is growing.

The IDF observed that the world should not ignore the nutritional importance of dairy products in balancing the diets and also maintaining the ratio between supply and demand. Dairy is the basis of economic development and agrarian economic growth.

The Summit cited some reports criticizing animal agriculture and recommending reduction in their numbers due to climate change. However, none of these reports recognized that we can provide proper food security without dairy animals and also truly nourish the population without dairy products.

Many people living in extreme poverty in the world live in rural areas, for whom animals are a pathway to sustain a family and to provide economic security on daily basis. Therefore, dairy provides a way-out of poverty, starvation, malnutrition and ensuring zero hunger. The dairy sector is taking strides to produce more milk with less land and less water beside achieving carbon footprint near to zero in the whole dairy value chain from cow to consumer. Dairy eradicates poverty and empowers rural women. It creates new jobs for the unemployed youths.

The Conference took note of dwindling interest of young people in dairy farming because they seek other career pathways which are more attractive and professionally remunerative. Fortunately, this phenomenon is not so serious in India. In fact, many young entrepreneurs and new start-ups in India are entering dairy field because dairy as a profession is more lucrative.

Dairymen must develop smart agro-tech solutions and sustainable dairy farming practices to ensure a good living for now and the future generations. We should take ownership in expanding knowledge globally through dairy education programmes since it is expected that there will be two billion more mouths to feed the world in the year 2050.

The insight into a dynamic and growing world dairy market is provided by the IDF Bulletin on World Dairy Situation-2019 to encourage dairy product manufacturers and producers around the globe. A strong demand for milk and milk products provides an attractive proposition to expand milk production through commercial dairy herds in the countries of Africa and Asia. Dairy growth in India is expected to be faster than the other countries of the world.

Milk harbours different kinds of microbes including pathogenic strains. There is a need for active management of contaminants and toxins which may enter the milk supply chain. Newly emerging pathogens are a cause of great worry faced by the world today. It is, therefore, important that the stakeholders become extra vigilant to prevent the entry of potentially harmful bacteria and contaminants into milk and milk products. There was a session on dairy sector strategy to address food loss and food waste by proactive management of emerging contaminants using process and bio-protection approaches to mitigate the problem of dairy products loss and wastages.

The IDF Summit discussed the significance of School Milk feeding programmes on a global scale. These programmes are common in many countries in the world. Dairy products are well known as suppliers of high quality protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamins such as B group riboflavin and thiamine and fat soluble Vitamin A, D, E and K.

School feeding programmes raise children's awareness about the importance of balanced nutrition and physical activity on playground. Change begins for the future life of the individuals at the school level to develop healthy habits about optimal nutrition and physical activities.

“Healthy communities are possible with healthy children.”

Evidence shows the multiple benefits generated through school feeding programmes and offering new alternative for utilization of surplus Skim Milk Powder (SMP) on global basis.

School feeding programmes bear great significance in Indian condition because 35 per cent of our children under five are stunted and 33 per cent are under weight. Anaemia affects 40 per cent adolescent girls and 18 per cent adolescent boys. Although obesity among school going children is not a very serious issue in India, it afflicts great majority of population in advanced countries of the world. Review works have shown that a quality education combined with a package of health and nutrition at the school level can contribute to a good child and adolescent development. It is important that government recognize the importance of school milk programmes in promoting good health of growing children.

Intake of dairy products was positively correlated with the cost effective healthy alternatives to prevent the occurrence of diseases like Cancer, Diabetes, Coronary Heart diseases, stroke and bone fractures as milk provides high-dense quality milk ingredients from natural resource. Europeans have developed a dairy matrix concept wherein milk contains all macro, micro and nano nutrients. Scientists are now communicating with health professionals and entering into health policy debates using health workers and dietitians. Consumers often develop negative perception for milk and other dairy products based on false information spread by press and media. Dairy industry should make efforts to prevent inaccurate information especially on the internet by spreading frequent news to support their marketing efforts and purchasing decision of the consumers.

The significance of lactose in dairy products visa-vis added sugar which contribute plenty of calories but without nutritional value was highlighted. The WDS noted that the natural sugars in milk and milk products are superior to that of added sugar and that no mistake should be made to limit the consumption of lactose, unless it was a case of mal-absorption in a minor group of children. Lactose is otherwise not harmful among general masses. A case is made out to reduce the salt and sugar contents in dairy products.

Dairying in Turkey

Turkey is becoming a country of milk and dairy products with increasing number of cows and increased products obtained per animal. Turkey has wide meadows and grazing lands and a climate structure that encompasses four seasons. Turkey, with its milk production of more than 22 million tons is the third largest in Europe and 8th largest producer in the world. According to the official statistics, fresh milk production in Turkey has increased by 25 per cent during the past five years. Apart from raising consumer awareness, income growth and changes in dietary habits, the School Milk Project implemented for the past seven years led to increased milk consumption resulting in the surge of drinking milk production. Cheese is a unique dairy product for Turkish people in breakfast. Yoghurt has the second largest production followed by liquid milk. Turkey’s main exporting dairy products are whey products, cheese and milk powder. Butter and cheese are imported into Turkey to meet local demands.

To witness the growth of a commercial dairy herd in Turkey, a technical tour was organized by the Conference Secretariat on 27 September to Itimat Dairy. This commercial dairy farm has 2000 milking Holstein Friesian cows owned by three generations living together. They produce about 40000 litres of milk per day. Cows are fed on dry grass, silage, baled hay, and farm formulated concentrate mix. Although animals are living in barns on dung and urine, the standard plate count of raw milk is 20000 per ml and 250000 somatic cell counts. The price of milk is controlled by the Government. The dairy collects 85000 litres of milk from other farms for conversion into milk products. Farm produced milk is pasteurized and sold as Aryan Milk, 60 tons goes to yoghurt and 15 tons for Feta Cheese. The dairy uses sexed semen to produce female calves employing artificial insemination.

The next World Dairy Summit 2020 will be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 24 September to 1 October, 2020. Dairymen of India are encouraged to participate at the IDF Summit.