Dairy Australia promoting dairy on the international stage

Dr David Nation said the highlight was an address by Ban Ki-moon, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations and South Korean diplomat. 

“What was particularly powerful to me was his personal account of the importance of dairy foods and its contribution towards making South Korea a success story.”

“The chance to take part in the Global Dairy Platform was a great opportunity, particularly in the area of great interest to Australia, sustainability.

“Engagement at international forums provides a wonderful opportunity to take part in the global conversation around subjects such as sustainability and exchange ideas,” Dr Nation said.

Dairy Australia has had an active role in helping to create the global dairy sustainability framework, based on the successful delivery of Australia’s globally recognised industry sustainability framework.

“We would like to see how our sustainability framework aligns with an international framework where we can all consider the issues for the dairy industry across the globe,” Dr Nation said.

Dairy Australia also promoted the quality of Australia’s dairy products in Japan this year by meeting with key Japanese industry customers in Tokyo.

In November Dr Nation attended the annual Kangaroo Kai, which sees over 200 senior representatives of the Japanese dairy and food manufacturing sectors attend as well Australian representatives.

“This was my first chance to participate in Kangaroo Kai and as Japan is as a major market for Australian dairy products,” Dr Nation said.

“It is essential that we continue our long history of cooperation and friendship.

“Australia needs to continue to build relationships internationally that are enduring and promote our high-quality produce.

“We are seen as a favourable country to source dairy from, as we are committed to innovation and sustainability, and are dedicated to meeting our customer’s needs.

“Although Australia has been impacted by the large global changes to dairy trade in the last five years our industry has been very resilient in the face of those changes.

“We have plans in place to remain resilient with the introduction of a whole-of-industry Dairy Plan being implemented to ensure farmers remain strong, confident and united,” Dr Nation said.

The plan will be built over the next six to nine months and will include a consultation process that is designed to rally the industry, and those collective views will form a single document.

Ultimately, the Dairy Plan will set the purpose, vision and strategy for the dairy industry for the next five years and beyond, so we can take advantage of the many opportunities, both domestically and globally that exist for Australia’s dairy industry.