IDF Blog

Family farming in a rapidly changing world

By Andrew Hoggard, Dairy Farmer and Farmer representative on IDF SPCC Science and Coordination Committee

Introducing the UN Decade of Family Farming On 20 December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution by which it declared 2019-2028 to be the Decade of Family Farming. FAO and IFAD actively supported the campaign and have been called upon to co-lead the implementation of the Decade in cooperation with a broad range of partners. What does this mean for family farms? The UN Decade of Family Farming aims to shed new light on what it…

LEAP Sustainability Initiatives Forging Ahead

By María Sánchez Mainar, DMV, PhD – IDF Science and Standards Programme Manager

In 2019, IDF was pleased to take up the chairmanship role in the FAO Livestock Environmental Assessment and Performance (LEAP) partnership, an initiative focused on improving sustainability within the livestock sector. LEAP is a multi-stakeholder initiative made up of Governments, NGOs and members of the private sector, which is hosted by FAO. It develops comprehensive guidance and methodology for monitoring the environmental performance of livestock supply chains. Since July 2012, the dairy sector, represented by IDF, has participated in LEAP…

Celebrating the Dairy Matrix on World Health Day

By Laurence Rycken, IDF Science and standards programme manager

On Sunday, the 7th of April, World Health Day was celebrated, a day which highlights the importance of global health and focuses on the ways in which we can improve it. The relationship between diet and nutrition and the substantial impact on health is well known and has again been highlighted in a recent study in the Lancet, which found that 11 million deaths around the world can be attributed to poor dietary habits. The study shows the need for a…

Codex Adopts Changes to Harmonise Standards for Ripened Cheeses, Removing International Trade Challenges

By Aurélie Dubois, IDF Science and Standards Programme Manager and Keith Johnston (NZ) Leader of the Action Team on Alignment of the IDF Standing Committee on Food Additives

Last week, at its 51st session in Jinan China, the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA) adopted the changes needed to harmonise provisions in the 13 Codex Standards for ripened cheeses (Cheddar, Danbo, Gouda, Havarti, Edam, Samso, Emmental, Tilsiter, Saint Paulin, Provolone, Camembert, Brie and Coulommiers), removing an international trade challenge for exports of ripened cheeses. This is an important decision that will have a positive impact on the dairy sector. One of the major challenges for manufacturers, importers and…

How the Dairy Sector is Tackling Food Waste

By Pierre Barrucand, Chair of IDF Standing Committee on Environment

The dairy sector is committed to adopting sustainable practices and ultimately being a key contributor to sustainable food systems. Of course, tackling food waste is a critical part of that effort. As the chair of the Standing Committee on Environment at the International Dairy Federation (IDF), I am honoured to have the chance to speak this week at a side event for the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi and present a case study on the dairy sector’s innovative approaches to…

Three Reasons Dairy is an Essential Part of a Sustainable Diet

by Dr Judith Bryans, IDF President

The UN Environment Assembly will be gathering soon in Nairobi to discuss the theme of “Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production”. How we can build sustainable food systems will no doubt be at the centre of these discussions. As the President of the International Dairy Federation (IDF), every day I see the important role that dairy plays in meeting these challenges. Feeding the world with healthy and sustainable food is a goal that we all…

Tackling antimicrobial resistance in the dairy sector is a global effort to ensure animal and public health, and food safety

By Caroline Emond, Director General The dairy sector has adopted an integrated supply chain management approach to curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This requires positive actions and cooperation by all players such as dairy farmers, veterinarians, dairy and meat processing companies, animal feed producers, pharmaceutical firms and regulators. The recent annual World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2018 may have concluded but AMR must continue to remain at the forefront of our continuous efforts to address this important issue. Antimicrobial…

Our Future Depends on Ruminants

by María Sánchez Mainar, DVM, PhD, IDF Science and Standards Manager, Sustainability and Animal Care

The media often reports how consumer choices can contribute to sustainable development, for instance by adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet. As a sustainability manager working for the International Dairy Federation (IDF), I came to realize that people are continually exposed to incorrect information that is repeated without being challenged, in particular about the impact of dairy cattle on climate change. Such media statements are deepening the confusion between opinion and science, which is unfortunate, resulting in incorrect food choices…

Clampdown on milking a name to market vegan substitute

by Caroline Emond, IDF Director General

The US is joining the EU, Canada, Norway, Iceland and New Zealand in regulating the misuse of dairy terms. Consumers have the right to know when they are not buying real dairy products. A plant-based substance is no alternative to animal milk in terms of its composition, texture, taste and nutritional value. A liquid plant-based product that bears a resemblance to milk can be referred to as a white beverage. It is erroneous to call it ‘milk’ and masquerading it…

Forging ahead in 2018

by Dr Judith Bryans, IDF President

There is an old saying that time flies and it certainly feels that way. It’s been almost eight months since we were together as IDF family at the 2017 World Dairy Summit. Many things have happened at IDF over those months and I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight just a few of them to you. You will of course know by now that our new Director General, Caroline Emond, is in place. My thanks to all of you who have contacted her and made her feel welcome.