GDP Bulletin May / June 2021

Global Dairy Sector to Celebrate
21st Annual World Milk Day

World Milk Day, established in 2001 by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to recognize the importance of milk as a global food and to celebrate the positive impacts the dairy sector provides, will be held on Tuesday, June 1.

To help build a positive stream of conversation in advance, festivities will start early with the Enjoy Dairy Rally May 29 – May 31. The Enjoy Dairy Rally, which will promote dairy nutrition on May 29, dairy’s contributions to communities and livelihoods on May 30, and the enjoyment of delicious dairy products on May 31, will be held for the third consecutive year to create a four-day promotional campaign for the sector.

On World Milk Day, the theme will focus on sustainability to showcase dairy’s commitment to reducing the sector’s environmental footprint. Global Dairy Platform (GDP) is encouraging the social sharing of videos from farmers and others who are embracing technology to help create a low-carbon future for dairy. In doing so the hope is that a new age of dairy farmers will be introduced to the world. Plus, farmer videos are an authentic, engaging way to tell dairy’s story.

GDP has developed an Activation Guide which includes a step-by-step guide on how to participate in the celebration. To download the guide and other assets, such as key messages, videos, infographics and sample posts, go to https://worldmilkday.org/media-downloads, Username: media, Password: WMD21Downloads.

Please join the celebration and help us make this the best World Milk Day celebration yet!

GDP Continues to Advocate for Dairy
in UN Food Systems Summit

The UN Food Systems Pre-Summit, scheduled for July 26-28 in Rome, is nearing and GDP remains actively involved in all aspects of the Summit to ensure dairy’s voice is heard during discussions about food system transformation.

Four “Game Changer” solutions have been submitted for consideration by the Summit, including Net Zero, Pathways to Low-Carbon Dairy (NZP), Dairy Nourishes Africa (DNA), Dairy Sustainability Framework and Sustainable Protein. The International Dairy Federation (IDF) also submitted a Game Changer on School Milk. GDP recently met with leadership of Action Track #1 (Ensure Access to Safe and Nutritious Food for All) and Action Track #3 (Boost Nature-Positive Production) to promote NZP and DNA.

To further strengthen dairy’s support within the Summit, GDP has held briefing meetings with UN Member States (most at the Ambassador level). Fifteen of 25 meetings have been conducted so far, including with India, Argentina, Thailand, Denmark and the United States.

The Summit itself is planned for New York City in September (date to be determined).

New Publication Released Detailing
Dairy’s Role in the Future of Food

GDP, in conjunction with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, released a new technical publication, “Dairy’s Role in a Responsible and Sustainable Food System.”

The report, available in both English and Spanish, summarizes a webinar held last year that was attended by more than 500 government officials, industry representatives, farmers, academics, civil society and media.

 For questions or more information: Info@GlobalDairyPlatform.com

Dairy Sector – A Snapshot

1

1 billion people strong

2

600 million people living on farms

3

400 million additional people are supported by the full time jobs that are created in support of dairy farming

4

240 million people are employed, directly or indirectly, in the dairy sector

5

133 million dairy farms

6

37 million farms led by women, 80 million women employed in dairying

Important Dates for the Dairy Diary

June 7-11, 2021

UN Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock Annual Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Meeting
Online

July 26-28, 2021

UN Food Systems Pre-Summit
Rome

September 24, 2021

UN Food Systems Summit
New York City

November 1-12, 2021

UN Climate Change
Conference COP26
Glasgow

November 17, 2021

GDP Annual Meeting
Online

November 30, 2021

Dairy Sustainability
Framework Annual

Members Meeting
Online

GDP Bulletin May / June 2021

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