New Structure and Expanded Functions for Galicia's Dairy Sector Observatory
The Consello de la Xunta de Galicia has approved a new decree by the Consellería de Medio Rural to reform the structure and operations of the Galician Dairy Sector Observatory. The changes aim to augment the volume of available data, enhance transparency, and elevate the quality of published information.
According to the Galician government, the goal is to "improve this advisory, consultative, and analytical body for the dairy sector," providing it with tools essential for business decision-making and market strategy formulation. The Observatory's last meeting was held in March 2023.
Economic Significance
The dairy sector is a crucial component of Galicia's agrarian economy, with over 2.9 million tons of milk produced in 2023, generating a value exceeding €1.5 billion paid to Galician producers. To support this essential sector with effective strategic planning tools, a new regulatory framework has been introduced to reinvigorate the Galician Dairy Sector Observatory.
Originally established in 2007, the Observatory's functionality will be updated to reflect the current realities of production, industry developments, consumption trends, and both national and international dairy product markets.
New Membership Composition
Under the new regulations, the Observatory will welcome representatives from all segments of the dairy value chain, including production, industry, distribution, and consumption. Additionally, the roles of the President, Secretariat, and 21 vocal positions are redefined, highlighting the inclusion of the most representative Galician dairy producers' organization. This change is driven by the need for comprehensive representation from all sectors directly or indirectly involved in the dairy industry.
Enhanced Oversight and Research
To reinforce its operational efficacy, the new structure allows for the creation of working groups that may include outside experts in the dairy field. The Observatory will also expand its functions to explicitly encompass the analysis of the value chain and the commercial and contractual relationships between various stakeholders within the food chain, which are vital to pricing strategies.
Scheduling of Meetings
A more extended interval between regular plenary sessions of the Observatory is established, shifting from quarterly to annual meetings. This change intends to offer consolidated data that can better fulfill the Observatory's analytical roles. However, provisions exist to hold additional meetings as necessary, in the form of extraordinary sessions.
