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Sustainability and the environment are to be the focus of heightened activity at the International Dairy Federation, the organisation’s board has decided.

In its first full meeting, IDF’s new directors approved an ambitious programme aimed at improving the global dairy industry’s environmental positioning. A work schedule is being drawn up by IDF’s Science and Programme Co-ordination Committee (SPCC) and additional resources have been earmarked by the board to give the initiative early impetus.

IDF President, Jim Begg said: “We are acutely conscious of the potential impact on the dairy industry around the world of issues such as climate change and carbon footprinting. There is a global role for providing good balanced information in this area, particularly on the environment, so that developments are influenced by sound science. We aim to secure a leading role for the IDF in this area.

“We also intend to develop best practice in the key environmental areas relevant to the dairy industry. We shall do this using our own resources and by working in partnership with other organisations active in this area, such as the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform.”

IDF Director-General, Christian Robert, said: “IDF is already leading projects on environmental issues such as fresh water treatment, re-use of processed water, cutting on-farm emissions of greenhouse gases, effluent treatment and reduction of dust emissions from dairy plants.

“But this new initiative should add to our understanding of the issues and improve our ability to guide the dairy industry down the path of sustainability.”