Member of the IDF Standing Committee for Animal Health and Welfare,
IDF Action Team on Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle, Action Team on
Reproductive Technologies for Dairy Cattle and ICAR/IDF
Joint initiative on sensor use in dairy cattle.
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) hosted the 2024 World Dairy Summit (WDS) in Paris from October 15–18, bringing together a diverse group of dairy farmers, rural professionals, industry leaders, and sustainability advocates.
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) is a global non-profit organisation, founded in 1903, to represent the dairy sector. The IDF collaborates with governments, industry leaders, and scientific bodies to set international standards and provide research-backed policy guidance. Through events like the annual World Dairy Summit, the IDF promotes knowledge-sharing and innovation to address challenges such as environmental impact, food security, and public health in dairy production and consumption.
The IDF conducts its research through a collaborative process involving expert panels, scientific groups, and member organisations from over 50 countries (including New Zealand). There are several standing committees, including the Standing Committee for Animal Health and Welfare and multiple Action Teams, researching specific topics such as heat stress, Johne’s disease, calf health and more. Vetlife is well represented with five employees currently participating in either committee work or action team research.
The WDS 2024 programme featured a range of sessions covering sustainable dairy production, nutrition, food safety, and innovation. As part of the summit’s themes, dairy leaders stressed the urgency of coordinated, international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt sustainable practices across both small- and large-scale dairy operations.
A summit highlight was undoubtedly the Welcoming Ceremony, held at the Louvre Museum in the centre of Paris. Closed for the occasion, summit attendees had the opportunity to walk the galleries of this world-famous museum, without the usual crowds.
This year’s event also highlighted the importance of diversity in the dairy sector, including discussions focused on empowering women in dairy and attracting younger generations to the sector. This emphasis on inclusion recognised the need for a broad talent pool that can address dairy’s evolving challenges and opportunities. An example of this was a forward-thinking session on innovative marketing strategies, highlighting how platforms like Roblox (a platform popular for its interactive games) can be leveraged to engage younger generations and educate them about dairy in a fun, immersive way. This session focused on using digital spaces to reach audiences who are less likely to engage with traditional marketing. Platforms like Roblox were showcased as tools to create experiences that resonate with a tech-savvy generation, helping to connect with younger demographics to foster future support for dairy and create positive associations.
Being involved with an organisation such as the IDF brings the international efforts a lot closer to home. It is a unique opportunity to put our thinking into context and confirm that New Zealand is leading on many levels when it comes to sustainable dairy practices, innovation and animal health and welfare.
The 2025 World Dairy Summit will be held in Santiago, Chile, where Latin America’s dairy sector will provide a new context for exploring sustainability and growth. The 2026 summit will follow in Auckland, New Zealand – a little closer to home for those who are interested in joining this inspirational, annual event!
