Through its nutrient rich products, the dairy sector today is already a major source of essential nutrition for many 100s of millions of people, with an even bigger role to play in future sustainable nutritious, safe, affordable and enjoyable diets.
The dairy industry recognizes the environmental and sustainability challenges related to its use of natural resources and the impacts that are generated as a result of the production of milk and dairy products in the market place.
In 2009 the dairy industry, in a fashion that is quite unique, came together on a global basis to proactively respond predominantly to the issues identified in the FAO publication ‘Livestock’s Long Shadow’ which provided the first real evidence of the impact of ‘livestock’, not just dairy, from an environmental aspect focusing mainly on green house gas emissions. The dairy sector namely six organizations; European Dairy Association (EDA), Eastern and Southern African Dairy Association (ESADA), Pan-American Dairy Federation (FEPALE), Global Dairy Platform (GDP), International Dairy Federation (IDF) and Sustainable Agricultural Initiative Platform (SAI); committed to make a positive contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the global dairy sector.
Launched in October 2009, the Global Dairy Agenda for Action (GDAA) committed the dairy industry to actively reducing GHG emissions and also took the opportunity to profile the efforts of the sector to reduce GHG emissions throughout the value chain. The Commitment also involved the development of ‘tools’ that supported emission reduction strategies in a way that was environmentally sound, economically viable and socially responsible. For detailed supporting evidence see the full Progress Report 2009-2011. Download the 48-page electronic report here… (3.8 MB)
The GDAA provides governance for the global dairy sector’s efforts in addressing its sustainability challenges.