Belarus Aims to Produce 12 Million Tons of Milk by 2035
"All the prerequisites to produce 9 million tons of milk this year are in place. The key task is to understand what we will produce and where to sell it in 10 years," Yakovchits noted.
According to him, the ministry has already formulated a strategic development plan for the dairy industry up to 2035, with a focus on each enterprise. The main focus is on improving quality, expanding the range, and finding new export markets.Quality and Integration as a Competitive Advantage
Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the Processing Industry at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Maria Klimova, emphasized that the milk marketability in Belarus reaches 91%, which is significantly higher than the global average (around 50%).
"By 2035, we plan to achieve a production of 12 million tons of milk. The priority is to improve qualitative characteristics and modernize enterprise technology," Klimova noted.
President of the Russian Dairy Union, Lyudmila Manitskaya, added that 94% of Russian dairy imports come fr om Belarus, with 100% in certain categories (including dairy whey, cottage cheese, and permeate).
"Russia and Belarus can develop joint projects and build mutually beneficial supply chains. This is especially important in the context of rising milk production costs," Manitskaya emphasized.
Discussions and Innovations: From 'Dairy Debates' to New Products
The forum was accompanied by an extensive business program and thematic sections. The greatest interest was aroused by the 'Dairy Debates' and the 'Betting on Ice Cream' panel, wh ere market trends, packaging innovations, and creating added value were discussed.
Among the novelties presented were lactose-free condensed milk from the Rogachev Dairy Plant, yogurt dressings from the Luninets Dairy Factory, and sachet milk drinks with chicory and coffee from the Kalinkovichi Plant branch.
The forum also hosted the 'Hundred Roads of Export' and 'Big Stars of the Milky Way' award ceremonies. Among the laureates was Svetlana Ashmankevich, head of the skimmed milk powder shop at the Lida Milk-Canning Plant, who received a prize for implementing energy-efficient technologies.
Photo: sb.by
