In this issue...

Comment on the global indicators development and register for the 'Next Steps' webinar on 11th October. There's an update from the DSF Advisory Council meeting and invitations to TWO global meetings! Plus much more...

The DSF is in the process of identifying High Level Indicators for its 11 Global Criteria. To date, a completely transparent approach has been undertaken with the DSF membership and the DSF Advisory Council.

The process is now widening out to consider the views and comments of both members and other stakeholders in finalizing the five indicators planned for launch in 2017. These are for Soil (Nutrients), Soil (Quality and Retention), Biodiversity, Water Availability and Quality and Working Conditions.

Review and comment on the proposed candidate indicators for five global criteria HERE. The deadline for submissions is 8th October 2017.

The next steps

After the web-based consultation closes, Dr Marty Matlock and his team at the University of Arkansas have committed to compiling a summary report immediately.  It is the DSF’s plan to have this report available from October 9^th 2017.

This will provide interested stakeholders time to review the report and then join a webinar on Wednesday 11^th October at 20.00 BST to seek further clarification or ask Marty questions related to the indicator development process.  A tight but achievable timeline!

Brian Lindsay, DSF Development Director says: “It is important to remember that these are high level indicators that the DSF will use to track the progress of the global dairy sector under each of the 11 DSF criteria.  They need to be globally relevant and applicable.”

On 7-10 November 2017 the next Dairy Asia open platform meeting will be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The meeting is open to representatives of all relevant sector stakeholder groups from across the world. It will provide an opportunity for participants to get to know the platform and its members better. 

The members have developed an Asian sustainability framework as a key tool to coordinate and align action. Using the framework as guidance a group of stakeholders came together in each member country to discuss the main sustainability challenges they are facing and prioritize three key areas of work for each country respectively.   This development aligns directly with the DSF requirements.

At this next meeting the participants will hear of progress made in the countries with regards to the prioritized working areas and will develop a roadmap for future platform activities.

Furthermore, participants can engage in interactive learning sessions including poster presentations of success stories of innovative practices and approaches from the region for a more sustainable dairy sector. There will be a large exhibition area on recent developments and activities in the region, and a fieldtrip to gain insights into the dairy sector in Myanmar including sustainability challenges and best practices. And lastly, a special focus will be given to climate change with a side track on climate smart livestock.

The DSF as a member of the Dairy Asia Steering Committee will be attending this meeting with the aim of identifying further collaborative opportunities as agreed by our current MOU.  Why not come along and see first hand the great progress that the Dairy Asia program is making.

For further information and registration please contact Melina Lamkowsky at Asia-Dairy-Network@fao.org. Unfortunately, the visa regulations in Myanmar only permit the secretariat of Dairy Asia to accept registrations until 5 October 2017. So sign up now!

Taking advantage of the fact that many of our members will be travelling to Belfast for the IDF World Dairy Summit in October, we will be holding our second members meeting there on Sunday 29th October 2017 at the Belfast Hilton Hotel.

Join us for a full day of interactive workshops to ensure you are making the most of your membership and supporting our goal to demonstrate the global sector's continuous improvement.

The agenda will include:

• The launch of FIVE new global indicators

• How to establish your multi-stakeholder management group

• The importance of a robust materiality analysis

• Aggregation

• A panel discussion with members of the DSF Governors and Advisory Council

• Networking and drinks event to close

Book your place HERE - DSF MEMBERS ONLY

The recent meeting of the DSD Advisory Council (with representation from FAO, Asda, Oxfam, American Humane, Rabobank and WWF) included a presentation from Dr Marty Matlock on the indicators development work.

This invaluable stakeholder group gave unique input to the process from their own perspectives and experiences, encouraging the continuation of the transparent and engaging process that is currently being implemented.

Dr Judith Bryans, President of the International Dairy Federation (IDF) was the dinner speaker at this event.  Dr Bryans provided an update on the Dairy Declaration, signed by the IDF and the FAO in Rotterdam in 2016. It was clear from this presentation that the role of the DSF is paramount in providing evidence of the sector’s continuous sustainability improvement aligned to the industry's commitments via the declaration.

The DSF already has significant support in New Zealand with Implementing members Fonterra, Miraka and most recently Open Country Dairy. The DSF Secretariat has been drawing on their existing knowledge of the DSF on how the aggregator approach work could work nationally.

Thanks must go to Kimberly Crewther of Dairy Companies of New Zealand (DCANZ) for hosting the DSF in a number of meetings with dairy processors across the country.  The purpose of the meetings was to share the development of the DSF and explore with these companies and other organisations the aggregator approach for the New Zealand dairy sector and how this might add value to their own individual activities.

This approach would allow the NZ industry to agree their (national) priorities and set in motion initiatives for the improvement of these priorities, quantifying progress in a consistent way.  Aggregated reporting, through a representative body, is then possible.  Importantly, not only would they have the data/progress for reporting into the DSF, they will also have this valuable information for use, as dictated by local needs.

Credit must go to all (6) organisations that we met with for their openness and willingness to explore this opportunity that will add value to their existing programs.  The DSF will continue to support DCANZ as they provide the leadership in this space.

Organisations met with: DairyNZ, Miraka Ltd, Tatua, Westland Milk Products, Synlait Milk Ltd, Open Country Dairy and Fonterra.

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is hosting a Sustainability Communicators Summit in Denver, October 11-13, 2017.

They’re bringing together an exclusive group of social scientists, communication experts, and a host of sustainability trail-blazers to explore how we’re all talking about sustainability, in person, online, or even in virtual reality. During our two and half days together, summit attendees will do the type of work that drives continuous improvement!

GRSB hopes the types of conversations that will be had, the knowledge that will be shared, and the relationships that will be built, will be the makings of a big up-level in how we’re collectively communicating about global sustainability.

They’re are looking to fill the room with the best and brightest in sustainability communications to walk-the-talk of our industry mantra of continuous improvement.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sarah J. Bohnenkamp with your questions and we hope to be seeing you in Denver!

View agenda and registration HERE