Tag: international dairy

United States to Host 2023 IDF World Dairy Summit in Chicago

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The United States will host the International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit, the world’s biggest dairy conference, in October 2023 at Chicago’s famed McCormick Place conference center, IDF and the U.S. National Committee of the IDF (US-IDF) announced today. The honor provides an opportunity to showcase the dairy sector’s innovations in sustainability, nutrition and health, standards, safety and quality, to accomplish its purpose of nourishing the world with safe, nutritious and sustainable foods.

The IDF World Dairy Summit, the world’s leading international gathering of dairy-industry professionals, provides a vital forum for dairy leaders, experts, farmers, processors, traders and journalists worldwide to discuss how to further advance the collective global dairy sector forward in a positive, sustainable way. The meeting being organized by US-IDF, held in the United States for the first time since 1993, and IDF Head Office, offers a global opportunity for attendees to bring their perspective to discussions on how the sector can deliver impact now and into the future. That reflects the theme of the IDF World Dairy Summit 2023: “BE Dairy –Boundless Potential. Endless Possibilities.”

“As host, U.S. dairy is developing programming that will feature global and industry leaders, experts, scientists, technical specialists, farmers and more, exploring the global dairy sector’s most significant opportunities today and tomorrow,” shares US-IDF Organizing Committee Co-chair Nick Gardner, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Multilateral Affairs with the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). “At the same time, the beautiful host city of Chicago offers the best of American food, arts, music, and culture, all in close proximity to some of America’s famed dairy regions,” he added.

“The U.S. is excited to showcase the diversity of our dairy industry and its allied sectors,” adds US-IDF Organizing Committee Co-chair Shawna Morris, Senior Vice President of Trade Policy for the National Milk Producers Federation and USDEC. “Today, 94% of U.S. dairy farms are family farms. They span an astonishing variety of sizes and sustainability practices. The U.S. dairy processing sector is no less diverse — from specialty cheesemakers to cutting edge dairy ingredient and cheese manufacturing facilities. Our industry has come together collectively to play a leadership role on sustainability, trade, and dairy nutrition initiatives. We look forward to engaging with the global dairy sector on those and other topics as we work together to collectively reinforce the vital role dairy plays in communities around the world.”

“The IDF World Dairy Summit in Chicago will bring the whole dairy sector to gain and exchange knowledge, promote innovation and create networking and business opportunities. It will also coincide with the 120th anniversary of IDF, an occasion for showing the world all the expertise gain throughout the years and the potential of IDF and its programme of work for the benefit of future generations”, concludes IDF Director General, Ms. Caroline Emond.

For more information about the 2023 IDF World Dairy Summit, visit www.idfwds2023.com. For more information about IDF, visit www.fil-idf.org. For more information about US-IDF, visit www.usidf.org.

USDEC, NMPF Commend Senate Confirmation of Cindy McCain for U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) support the Senate confirmation yesterday of Cindy McCain’s nomination to serve as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. The United States’ active involvement in the three Rome-based U.N. food agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is critical as countries and their food producers combat hunger.

“Through Codex Alimentarius and other programs, the FAO plays a key role in setting global standards for the movement and consumption of safe food. U.S. dairy producers, manufacturers, and exporters rely on strong U.S. leadership in FAO convenings to ensure policy recommendations and decisions are science-based,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of USDEC. “With a wealth of experience working across international boundaries, Cindy McCain is well-positioned to serve as the next U.S. Representative to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture.”

As the global conversation on sustainable food systems shifts from the UN Food Systems Summit to work in the Rome-based agencies, it is critical that the U.S. has a strong voice in international fora to amplify the role that the U.S. dairy and agricultural industry is playing in advancing sustainability efforts. American dairy farmers, processors, and manufacturers are leaders in advancing voluntary action to reduce environmental impacts, including an industry-wide goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and a first-of-its kind voluntary National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Animal Care program, which sets high standards for animal care, housing, and antibiotic stewardship for 99% of all milk originating in the United States.

“The position of U.S. Ambassador to the UN Food Agencies is uniquely important as countries grapple with feeding a growing world population in a sustainable manner. UN forums, including the important follow up work initiated by the Food Systems Summit, are opportunities for U.S. dairy to showcase our sustainability efforts, and it is vitally important for the U.S. dairy industry to be well represented in these discussions,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF. “With a long and rich career devoted to serving people around the world, Cindy McCain epitomizes the qualities needed to serve the American people in Rome.”

U.S. Dairy Welcomes Progress and U.S. Leadership in UN Food Systems Pre-Summit

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) today commended U.S. leadership at the UN Food Systems Summit (UN FSS) Pre-Summit ministerial meeting in Rome. The Pre-Summit has generated dialogue on a multitude of ideas, proposals, and perspectives, some of which are not evidence-based or practical. Overall, however, there is strong global support for a process that raises the bar on sustainability ambitions – an area where U.S. dairy producers and processors are well positioned to shine. The organizations welcomed progress toward ensuring that agricultural innovation, science-based policies and sustainably produced animal-sourced foods remain at the center of healthy and sustainable food systems around the world.

NMPF and USDEC joined the U.S. delegation, led by U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jewel Bronaugh, in supporting UN FSS outcomes that advance innovation and evidence-based approaches to increase agricultural productivity and reduce environmental impact. In the months leading up to the Pre-Summit, NMPF and USDEC highlighted to U.S. government officials U.S. dairy’s leading role in implementing sustainable food production practices including those that adapt to and build resilience to climate change by committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering carbon.

“U.S. dairy farmers are taking voluntary action to achieve carbon neutrality, optimize water use, and improve water quality, delivering dairy’s future today,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF. “We are proud to champion nutrient-dense, sustainably produced U.S. dairy as a food security and environmental solution for the UN FSS and beyond.”

“It has never been more important for the world to adopt solutions like those implemented by U.S. dairy farmers and processors that leave a positive environmental footprint, nourishing people and the planet today and for future generations,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of USDEC. “We support the summit in its efforts to make global food systems more sustainable and offer the world a source of choice for responsibly produced, high quality, and nutritious dairy products.”

U.S. dairy farmers and processors lead across all three elements of sustainability defined by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – economic, social, and environmental. Two industrywide U.S. Dairy initiatives have been submitted to the UN FSS as game-changing solutions: (1) the Net Zero Initiative, through which U.S. dairy aims to become carbon neutral or better by 2050; and (2) the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, as part of a One Health approach ensures that science-based stewardship informs on-farm, socially responsible principles for exceptional care of animals and the planet.

NMPF and USDEC will continue to engage actively in the Food Systems Summit, which next meets in September and contribute to efforts to accelerate achievement of global sustainable development goals.

Dairy Defines Sustainability, Land O’Lakes’ Kappelman Says

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Sustainability is shaping the U.S. dairy industry’s future, making it better equipped to make sure the world has the nutrition it needs, says Pete Kappelman, a longtime dairy farmer and Land O’Lakes’ Senior Vice President of Member and Government Relations.

“U.S. dairy farmers are deeply involved and concerned about the many communities that they touch. And that starts with producing a safe, nutritious, affordable food, but it also includes things like being good stewards of the land, for the good of the planet,” as well as being able to pass a farm down to future generations, said Kappelman in a Dairy Defined podcast released today. “In order to feed a growing population, we’ve got to work together across continents, across cultures and markets to make abundant nutritious food available so everyone can realize their full potential.”

Kappelman also discusses industrywide sustainability commitments and Land O’Lakes Venture 37, which delivers market insights and technical expertise to agricultural development projects worldwide. The full podcast is here. You can also find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Broadcast outlets may use the MP3 file. Please attribute information to NMPF.