Environmental change is ‘biggest challenge’

THE biggest test for the world’s dairy industry is how it responds to the global environmental agenda.

International Dairy Federation (IDF) president Jim Begg told the summit that the environment had to be placed at the top of the international dairy industry’s agenda.

“It is the environment which, in my view, will be the major driver of the allocation of our future resources in dairying, in the nature of our products and the way we produce them,” he said.

Mr Begg said this is an issue which affects the dairy industry greatly, operating as it does in the global market.

Those in the IDF must debate it and indeed must promote it to the top of their agenda. It is in this arena in future that their ability to manage change will be tested.

Mr Begg said the industry had responded successfully to the massive changes in consumer lifestyles and is leading change in product innovation.

“Today’s butters, cheeses and milks are being supplemented by a whole new range of functional products which will drive the profitability of the industry in the future.

“Our industry is rightly investing substantial sums of money in the research and development necessary to generate new products and packaging for people on the move and for a global population that is increasingly interested in health, nutrition and provenance,” he said.

IDF director general Christian Robert announced the appointment of Sandra Tuijelaars as its nutrition office at its Brussels office.

The summit, with the theme of managing change in the dairy industry, is being attended by over 900 delegates from 50 countries.