Questioning the Disconnect
At the roundtable, there was universal agreement that it was also the responsibility of farmers to tackle the growing disconnect we see between consumers and food production across the world, a farmer stating that in the United States, “less than 1% of us feed animals.” 100%.”
It is clear from the contributions made that the next generation of dairy farmers are taking the topic of public engagement and education seriously. The group shared their experiences of what was happening in their own countries to improve consumers’ understanding of food production, especially at the local level.
A Dutch farmer told how he invites the public to visit his farm every year when his cows are put out to pasture, providing him with the opportunity to interact with the end consumer. Another Canadian delegate spoke of a concept launched by the Ontario Dairy Farmers called “Post-to-Pay,” where customers pay for their items by posting them on TikTok or Instagram.
The idea is for customers to follow the organization’s youth-oriented sub-brand, “MilkUP» and post on social media to receive dairy products in return. Directly targeting Generation Z, the campaign promotes the local credentials and nutritional benefits of dairy to those who would otherwise have grown up with alternatives.
With such diverse programming throughout the conference, this panel discussion was a welcome opportunity to hear directly from farmers and share new ideas among passionate dairy advocates who represent the future of our industry. Commitments have been made to maintain dialogue and continue to share learning.
“Every farmer has a role to play”
Speaking about her experience at the event, Ruth said: “It became clear early on at the summit that sustainability in dairy farming is a high priority global issue. As UK dairy farmers, we sometimes feel like we are responsible for solving the many sustainability challenges we face. So it was comforting to learn that we are not alone in the UK.
“It was also reassuring to learn that globally, the industry is committed to tackling the challenge of sustainable development together. This is not an area of competitive advantage: collaborate or dairy products may not meet consumer demands.
“It was equally reassuring to hear many speakers confirm that no dairy system is more efficient than another. They all provide opportunities to improve on-farm sustainability, whether through genetics, new technologies or simply by ensuring best practices are applied consistently. Ultimately, every farmer has a role to play. And we can all learn from each other.
“Spending time with our NFU dairy team at the summit gave me great confidence in our industry’s ability to meet the sustainability challenge. We have the support of a highly qualified team that supports us. Whether that’s lobbying the government, keeping an eye on the global pulse of the industry, or promoting British dairy products to the public.
