Hoard's Dairyman:
Latin America’s first dairy nutrition summit
March 19, 2026
By Jaime Castaneda, Executive Vice President, Policy Development & Strategy
Against the backdrop of one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for dairy demand, the inaugural Latin American Dairy Nutrition Congress, NutriLact Congress 2026, brought together leading scientists, health professionals, and policymakers Feb. 25 to 26 in Lima, Peru.
Co-chaired by the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Jaime Castaneda and Shawna Morris and organized by the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Dairy Council (NDC), the two-day event marked an important step in countering anti-dairy narratives that have increasingly taken hold in Latin America. It brought decision-makers and leading academics from across the region together to engage with the latest science on dairy’s role in healthy diets.
Dairy at the center
Over the past several years, NMPF and USDEC have met with a network of industry partnerships across Latin America. Those international dairy sector partners were deeply concerned by the misinformation coming from health ministries and medical leaders across the region. It reflected inaccurate, outdated information about the health effects of consuming dairy and was increasingly showing up in policies impacting both domestic and imported dairy products.
This posed a growing threat to dairy demand in a key region for U.S. dairy exports. To address it, USDEC applied for USDA funding to organize an event that would bring leading scientific experts to the region to help close the information gap. NDC partnered on the project, contributing its scientific expertise and connections across the medical and academic communities.
Promoting dairy’s role in healthy diets
The Congress was organized around the theme of “Generational Nutrition and the Role of Dairy,” with the goal to examine how dairy foods can support health at every stage of life, from pregnancy and early childhood to adolescence, adulthood, and healthy aging.
More than 20 experts shared the latest research on dairy’s role in providing important nutrients and supporting overall health.
All told, more than 300 attendees from 17 countries traveled to Lima, including representatives from research institutions, health ministries, and international organizations such as the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and the Pan-American Health Organization.
Turning research into action
A key focus of the Congress was translating research into real-world solutions. Panels brought together scientists and government officials to talk about how dairy can be included in everything from national dietary guidelines and school meal programs to maternal and child nutrition initiatives and clinical nutrition practices.
Speakers from leading institutions, including Harvard Medical School, Tufts University, and Mayo Clinic, presented research on heart health, child development, pregnancy nutrition, and meeting essential nutrient needs, and provided policymakers and health leaders with practical, evidence-based tools they can use in their own countries.
NutriLact Congress 2026 was not a one-time event, but rather the beginning of a longer-term regional effort to ensure that accurate information about dairy can consistently shape health policies and medical advice across Latin America to support dairy consumption in the region.
U.S. Dairy: Ready to meet Latin America’s demand
Beyond the science, the Congress underscored a practical reality: As Latin American governments and health systems talk about the benefits of dairy to close nutritional gaps, dairy consumption will increase. The United States is uniquely positioned to help meet that demand.
U.S. dairy exports to Latin America have grown steadily, and the region is seen as one of the most promising markets for future growth.
The NutriLact Congress was about more than sharing science. It was also about building trust and long-term partnerships. By positioning U.S. dairy as a reliable, research-backed partner in Latin America’s nutrition efforts, this initiative helped lay the foundation for stronger trade relationships and continued collaboration in the years ahead.
This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on March 19, 2026.
