GDP 4th annual Asian Regional meeting – Hohhot, Inner Mongolia – ‘Dairy’s Role in Health and Wellness’

Over 200 delegates, predominantly from across Asia, assembled in Hohhot for this dynamic one-day conference.  The meeting was organized by Global Dairy Platform with the invaluable support of the Mengniu Dairy Group, whose farms and processing facilities delegates were able to visit to appreciate the phenomenal growth of this business since its inception in 1999.

Conference sessions covered topics such as the importance of dairy in the current Chinese five year plan, dairy economics appreciating how the Chinese dairy sector is performing (with an appreciation of future scenarios as its dairy sector grows), and dairy as an integral dietary component.

Thanawat Tiensin ‘co-chair’ of Dairy Asia, provided an insightful presentation on the journey this initiative has been through to the current status of 13 Asian countries collaborating on sustainable dairy production.  His presentation reinforced the reason why the DSF has an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dairy Asia as not one dairy ‘group’ has all the answers and therefore collaboration is key to continued sustainability improvement regardless of where the production and processing is taking place.

Although not a ‘sustainability conference’, it was extremely clear from all speakers, both Government and industry, that sustainability is underpinning the efforts of the dairy sector., regardless of value chain position or geography.

Presentations from the President of Mengniu Dairy Group, Mr Jeffery Lu, emphasized that sustainability is core to the business’ strategy development. Kevin Bellamy of Rabobank shared the outcomes of Rabobank analysis, where businesses whose Boards take a sustainability approach to strategy development (as opposed to ‘maximizing profit’ or ‘market protection’) achieved a higher ROCE.

The meeting was more than just business.  The hosts also provided a wonderful cultural experience by providing an insight into the history and culture of this beautiful land and its (understandably) proud people.  This was appreciated by all who attended.

It is evident that the dairy sector is well and truly on its sustainability journey in its full context (Social, Economic and Environmental).  We must now collaborate in the name of ‘dairy’ and demonstrate the difference we are making by quantifying change as a result of our efforts and reporting this through the DSF to ensure that dairy has an integral part of our diets in the future.