IDF to host ‘role of dairy in sustainable diets’ event
The IDF said the conference format reflects the fact that the nutritional and environmental credentials of dairy cannot be considered in isolation while analyzing the importance of dairy in a balanced diet.
The event will offer delegates a mix of content, covering both nutritional and environmental facets throughout the two days.
‘Playing a key role’
The first day of the program will cover three sessions, focusing on sustainable diets, public perceptions of dairy, and dairy as part of a nutritious diet. The second day will look at the environmental and socioeconomic impact of dairy, and mitigation of environmental impact and adaptation to climate change.
IDF president Dr Judith Bryans said, “In hosting events such as this, the IDF continues to play a key role in facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas from across the globe, ensuring dairy remains at the forefront of new developments and approaches in these areas.”
Five sessions:
Sustainable diets
Public perceptions of dairy
Dairy as part of a nutritious diet
Environmental and socioeconomic impact of dairy
Mitigation of environmental impact and adaptation to climate change
Dr Nico van Belzen, IDF director general, said any work on sustainability must use a systems approach, or it will fail to reflect the realities of the issues at hand.
“Work on sustainable diets is no different,” van Belzen said.
“The conference is aimed at experts who want to know more about both these aspects. If there are still those who remain unconvinced that both subjects should be interlinked, this conference is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how fundamental an integrated approach is in understanding the complexity of the issue.”
Dairy Declaration
This event is the latest in a series of sustainability-focused initiatives undertaken by the organization.
In 2016, the FAO and IDF co-signed the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam, recognizing the importance of dairy in helping to achieve the United National Sustainable Development Goals.
Speakers and panelists so far confirmed include Ying Wang (Innovation Center for US Dairy), Nicole Darmon and Philippe LeGrand (INRA, France), Brad Ridoutt (CSIRO, Australia), Laurent Damiens (CNIEL, France), Wim Verbeke (Ghent University, Belgium), Ian Givens (University of Reading), Valeriu Curtui (EFSA, Italy), Piercristiano Brazzale (Brazzale, Italy), Eric Grande (Lactalis, France), Torsten Hemme (IFCN, Germany), Veronique LaGrange (USDEC), Brian Lindsay (DSF, Belgium), Anne Mottet (FAO), and Jørgen Eivind Olesen (Aarhus University, Denmark).
Registration for the event is currently open.
