The International Dairy Federation (or IDF) is a group of over 600 experts worldwide who provide science-based expertise and consensus for the global dairy sector. IDF is made up of 17 standing committees as well as action teams and task forces that meet regularly. The IDF standards are based around 3 core areas: Sustainability, Nutrition and Dairy Safety and Quality. Below are some of their main work areas which come under these headings:
- Animal Health and Welfare
- Dairy Science and Technology
- Economics, Marketing and Policies
- Environment
- Farm Management
- Food Standards
- Hygiene and Safety
- Methods of Analysis and Sampling
- Nutrition and Health
Judith Bryans, Chief Executive of Dairy UK became IDF President in 2016 and as part of her role is working to ensure dairy achieves the FAO’s Sustainable Development Goals. For dairy production and processing the most relevant SDGs are:
- Decent work and economic growth
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Responsible consumption and production
- Climate action
- Life below water
- Life on land
Many of these are already captured and measured in the UK through the Dairy Roadmap.
Every year an IDF member hosts the World Dairy Summit and this year’s event was hosted by DairyUK in Belfast.
The UK IDF committee is Chaired by Peter Dawson, DairyUK and includes representatives of the farm sector (through AHDB Dairy) and processing (through DairyUK).