Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay will jointly discuss milk’s future

The event will take place at the Wanderley Burmann Exhibition Park in Ijuí, during Expofest. Its programme will focus on the relationship between the three leading milk-producing countries in the region and on how Brazil’s dairy chain can compete with its neighbours in Mercosur.

Andrés Padilla of Rabobank and Wagner Beskow of Transpondo are confirmed for a session on the Mercosur market. Researchers from Argentina and Uruguay will also participate in the discussions scheduled for the second day.

Darlan Palharini, coordinator of the Milk Summit Mercosul and executive secretary of the Rio Grande do Sul Dairy Industry Union, said: “The proposal is to broaden the dialogue on the paths towards a more competitive dairy chain that is better prepared for the challenges of the domestic and international markets.”

The agenda will also cover Brazil’s dairy market, animal production, sector policies and sustainability. A separate panel will address exports, alongside the discussions on production and industrial activity.

Organisers expect more than 700 people to attend in person each day. About 400 of those participants are expected to be milk producers. The event is therefore intended for both company decision-makers and people involved in day-to-day production.

The meeting will include an Arena of Dairy Innovation, where start-ups will present technologies and business models for milk production and the dairy industry. Registration is free, although places are limited. The summit is being organised by public and private bodies connected with the production chain and regional development.