About Global Challenges For The Dairy Industry Told By IDF Head Laurence Rycken

World 31.03.2025

Source: DairyNews.today

Dairy Olympics 2025 – The Main Event of the Dairy Industry. From April 7 to 10, the city of Al Ain (UAE) will host leading experts, producers, and business leaders to discuss trends, innovations, and the future of the industry. One of the speakers will be Laurence Rycken, Director General at the International Dairy Federation (Belgium). Ahead of the Dairy Olympics, DairyNews.today reporters conducted an interview with Laurence Rycken. In the conversation, he shared his thoughts on the key challenges faced by dairy producers and processors, the role of IDF, and his expectations for the upcoming event.

About Global Challenges For The Dairy Industry Told By IDF Head Laurence Rycken

Could you briefly outline the main challenges that dairy producers and processors face today?

— The challenges are quite diverse, but interestingly, they are quite similar on a global scale. At the farm level, it’s essential to maintain efficiency and ensure continuous production. At the processing level, companies are dealing with increasing regulation and the need to sustain production. Another significant challenge is attracting the next generation to the dairy sector — making sure young people see a future in agriculture. Additionally, climate change and water management are major pressures affecting both farming and processing stages. IDF, as a global platform, helps stakeholders share experiences and solutions because while challenges may be similar, the solutions are often local.

So, IDF acts as a bridge between global challenges and local solutions?

— Exactly. While the challenges are consistent worldwide—like climate change, workforce shortages, and regulatory demands—the solutions depend on local contexts. For instance, what works in the Middle East may not be applicable in Chile. IDF’s role is to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning across regions, connecting people and helping them find adaptable solutions.

What advice would you give to dairy farmers and processors who want to stay competitive?

— The dairy sector must balance tradition and innovation. Dairy products have a rich heritage and cultural significance, so maintaining traditional values is crucial. At the same time, innovation is essential for efficiency—whether it's improving animal nutrition, genetics, or optimizing production processes. Investing in technology to enhance food safety and sustainability is also vital.

At the Dairy Olympics, what will be the key message of your presentation?

— My presentation will focus on the current state of the global dairy sector, highlighting trends in consumption and production and our efforts in standard setting and analytical work. We know demand is rising, but supply challenges persist. I’ll also share some of the solutions developed by IDF, such as addressing heat stress and leveraging technology to improve efficiency. The goal is to inspire collaboration and innovation within the sector.

Dairy Olympics 2025 is an international conference taking place from April 7-10, 2025, in the UAE, bringing together leading experts and specialists from the global dairy industry. This event will serve as a key platform for discussing current trends, innovations, and challenges facing the dairy sector.

The Olympics will showcase the latest technologies, sustainable solutions for dairy production, and insights into digitalization, environmental strategies, and emerging dairy markets.