United States Hosts Industry Leaders At World Dairy Summit
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) celebrated its 120th anniversary, and held the annual IDF World Dairy Summit (WDS) 2023 in Chicago on October 16-19 under the theme “BE Dairy: Boundless Potential. Endless Possibilities.” The event brought together more than 1,240 dairy leaders from 55 countries and highlighted dairy’s innovations, market opportunities and contributions to global sustainability, food security and more.
World Dairy Summit Highlights
This year’s summit included four days of sessions exploring the latest developments in dairy science, technology, knowledge and innovation from all over the world. The event returned for the first time in 30 years to the United States, the second-largest milk producer in the world. Following the primary agenda, participants joined sold-out technical tours to get a first-hand look at the best of American dairy production, from farms to processing facilities, research centers and labs.
Statements From IDF Leadership
IDF President Piercristiano Brazzale and Director General Caroline Emond, along with U.S. IDF co-chairs Nick Gardner and Shawna Morris, emphasized the importance of bringing the global dairy sector together and released a declaration statement that called on governments, global organizations and the world’s food and beverage sector to support “Being Dairy.”
Program Details And Reports
The four days of programing included eight main sessions and 21 break-out sessions focused on policy, scientific and technical insights and exclusive market analysis. IDF also released the World Dairy Situation Report 2023 (see related article in this issue), its 2022-23 annual report and announced the winners of its second annual IDF Dairy Innovation Awards, which celebrate and encourage innovative practices around the world.
Key Sessions And Collaborations
Among the session highlights were a Global Leaders Forum featuring dairy industry leaders such as Barbara O’Brien, president and CEO of Dairy Management Inc., and Miles Hurrell, CEO of Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd.; IDF’s collaboration with international standard-setting bodies featuring representatives from the National Milk Producers Federation, Codex Alimentarius Commission, ISO and IDF; and Global dairy processing opportunities and challenges with perspectives from dairy product innovators around the world.
U.S. Dairy’s Perspective
“U.S. dairy is honored to have hosted this momentous IDF WDS 2023, bringing dairy’s premier annual gathering to the United States for the first time in three decades,” says Gardner, who also serves as chair of the U.S. Committee to IDF and as senior vice president for sustainability and multilateral affairs for the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “Hearing from world-renowned speakers, forging relationships with peers and even visiting some of the United States’ leading dairy regions — IDF WDS 2023 participants have seen U.S. dairy’s contributions first-hand and further strengthened our collective ability to champion dairy’s critical role in nutrition, food security, environmental stewardship and more.”
IDF’s Historical Role And Commitment
Since 1903, IDF has been acting as the global dairy sector’s voice of scientific and technical expertise. As part of its 120th anniversary, IDF’s General Assembly, representing a broad swath of dairy-producing countries from around the world, has issued a statement that aims “to reinforce the importance of working together and empowering the next generation of leaders within the global dairy sector to maximize dairy’s boundless commitment and endless ambition to sustainably nourish people and communities and to make a positive difference in the world.”
Keep Up To Date On Cheese Industry News
Find all of HART Design & Manufacturing’s current industry news here.
Source: Cheese Market News
