Towards a Sustainable Dairy Sector

University College Cork, September 5-7 2012

It could be said that for the dairy sector the issue of sustainability is not a new one and that historically the ability to produce more from less has been a feature of its development. With the world population is due to reach 7.7bn by 2020 and the historical restraints on milk production in Europe being phased out this creates new opportunities and challenges. In addition to the challenge of feeding this growing population, the rapid economic development in countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China, has resulted in increasingly sophisticated new consumer audiences, demanding new and diverse food solutions.  Furthermore in the EU and US markets, consumers are increasingly seeking out and willing to pay a premium for foods with clear and credible health, wellness and sustainability attributes. All this creates considerable opportunities for naturally produced milk products.   The dairy industry also needs to remain competitive while at the same time committed to robust and best-in-class environmental protection. The opportunities and challenges of expansion together with the business challenges of meeting diverse nutritional demands and rapidly evolving environmental management targets is the theme of the SDT Autumn Conference to be hosted by the Southern Ireland Section in Cork this year.