GDP Bulletin January / February 2022
2021 GDP Key Achievements
The world continued to grapple with COVID-19 in 2021, but GDP was able to deliver many positive results for the global dairy sector. Just a few of these include:
- Being a founding partner of the groundbreaking Pathways to Dairy Net Zero climate initiative
- Helping to secure positive outcomes for dairy at the UN Food Systems Summit
- Coordinating the most successful World Milk Day yet
- Helping to secure a balanced view on key issues affecting dairy in the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition
Looking ahead to 2022 – GDP will remain focused on five key areas:
- Galvanizing the sector to tell the dairy story
- Engaging with the UN
- Encouraging the appropriate intake of nutrient-rich dairy
- Showing dairy is responsible and sustainable
- Demonstrating how dairy transforms livelihoods
Read the full 2021 GDP Key Achievements Report:
GDP Signs Historic Agreement with FAO
On December 15, 2021, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and GDP signed the first Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations. Areas of collaboration identified in this historic five-year MOU include:
- Working towards enhancing dairy’s contribution to food security and nutrition
- Optimizing dairy’s role in livelihoods and economic growth
- Supporting and promoting improvements in animal health and welfare in dairy systems
- Raising ambitions in dairy systems towards climate action and efficient use of natural resources
A draft work plan was agreed upon which outlines general activities under each of these four areas, with the intention to jointly build a detailed action plan over the coming months. This is a major step forward for the global dairy sector. It speaks to the strengthening relationship with the UN and dairy’s vital role in the future of food.
GDP Supports Global Methane Pledge
GDP has become a supporter of the Global Methane Pledge (MP) after unanimous approval by the GDP Board. Launched by the US and EU during COP26, the MP’s goal is to reduce global anthropogenic methane emission levels at least 30% by 2030 (from 2020 levels).
The MP’s primary focus has been on emissions from the energy sector, but they are also interested in engaging with the agricultural sector. GDP was referred to MP by FAO and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) based upon our respective partnerships and GDP’s work on sustainability.
Becoming a MP “Supporter” does not commit GDP or its members to any specific goals or actions. It is a general designation for any organization that agrees with the MP’s goal and can offer technical assistance, financial support or other momentum-building actions. In addition, the MP has stated that the areas of opportunity it sees for dairy relate to methane intensity reductions through productivity and efficiency enhancements, which aligns with GDP’s vision and work program aimed at positioning dairy as part of the solution.
There are already 111 countries on board and more than 25 organizations signed on as supporters.
View a list of Global Methane Pledge participants and supporters (GDP is yet to be added):
Dairy Sector – A Snapshot
1 billion people strong
600 million people living on farms
400 million additional people are supported by the full time jobs that are created in support of dairy farming
240 million people are employed, directly or indirectly, in the dairy sector
133 million dairy farms
