UN: The dairy industry is crucial for a sustainable development of the globe

”The dairy sector plays a key role in the implementation of the sustainable development goals from the United Nations’ 2030 agenda.”

The statement was made by Ren Wang, Assistant Director-General of the United Nations Organization FAO, when he and Jeremy Hill, retiring president of the International Dairy Federation, IDF, signed a joint declaration on the dairy industry's contribution to the planet's development – the "Rotterdam Declaration".

The declaration was signed in connection with the IDF's annual meeting of the World Dairy Summit in Rotterdam.

Livelihood for one billion people

The declaration recognises the important contribution of the dairy sector in providing healthy and safe food to the world's population. Additionally, it emphasises the sector's socio-economic importance - especially in developing countries. Approximately 80 million women are engaged in milk production, and the industry forms the basis of 240 million jobs worldwide. This means that about one billion people's livelihoods are supported by the sector.

Room for improvement

In the declaration, the dairy sector commits itself to make the milk and dairy production more sustainable, and particularly to make efforts for small productions.

”We must recognize that the dairy sector is not perfect and that there still are significant opportunities for efficiency improvements and improvements that can increase the sustainability of the value chain,” said IDF-president Jeremy Hill in connection with the signing of the declaration.

”I am convinced that we will look back on this declaration as a landmark in dairy history," he said, while emphasising the milk and dairy industry's influence and importance for the world.