The National Dairy Council (NDC) of Ireland has endorsed the Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability, which was adopted at the World Dairy Summit. This declaration emphasizes the dairy sector’s commitment to sustainable practices throughout the value chain, aligning with global efforts to promote environmental health, economic viability, and social equity.
The National Dairy Council (NDC), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, has expressed its support for the newly adopted Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability. The declaration, finalized last week at the International Dairy Federation’s (IDF) World Dairy Summit in Paris, aims to reinforce the dairy sector’s commitment to sustainable practices across the value chain.
The declaration aligns with the sustainability principles outlined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. It emphasizes the need to balance profitability, environmental health, and social equity while meeting the needs of present and future generations. Additionally, it highlights the importance of sustainable food and agriculture contributing to the “four pillars” of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability.
Mark Keller, interim CEO of the NDC, underscored the critical role of dairy in providing affordable and nutritious food amid rising environmental challenges. “Dairy is a highly nutritious food which we need to promote and protect in light of environmental challenges that we face. As an extraordinarily successful indigenous industry in Ireland, we need to continue to promote the benefits of dairy as part of a sustainable diet,” Keller said.
He further praised Ireland’s dairy farmers for their efforts to reduce emissions and adopt sustainable practices, calling for a collaborative global effort. “This will require a unified effort by the dairy industry in Ireland and every other country around the world,” he added.
The IDF’s declaration calls on governments, FAO member countries, dairy leaders, and stakeholders worldwide to endorse and actively engage with sustainability goals. The federation emphasized that the dairy sector cannot meet these targets alone and requires supportive policies and “enabling environments” to scale up its initiatives.
With dairy contributing to the livelihoods of over one billion people globally, the declaration sends a strong message about the industry’s dynamism and potential for positive change. The NDC reiterated its commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders along the dairy value chain, from farmers to processors, to meet sustainability goals while continuing to provide essential nutrition.
