Global Dairy Demand Poised to Outpace Supply Over Next Decade
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) has released a report predicting that global dairy demand will exceed milk production over the coming decade. This report, titled the World Dairy Situation (WDS) Report 2025, was unveiled at the IDF World Dairy Summit held in Santiago, Chile. According to the IDF, the growth in dairy production is anticipated to lag behind the expansion of global consumption, leading to an unmet demand for dairy products worldwide.
Ian Stevenson, chief executive of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland (DCNI), highlighted that the summit, which attracted over 800 delegates from 44 countries, served as a platform for discussing the future of the dairy industry. He noted that Irish dairy farmers have benefited from high prices due to demand surpassing supply over the past year, although farm gate prices have recently started to decline as production conditions improved.
The summit’s theme, ‘Nourishing a sustainable world,’ included over 90 technical sessions focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced by the global dairy sector. Among the notable speakers was New Zealand’s Minister of Food Safety, Biosecurity, and Associate Minister of Agriculture, Andrew Hoggard, who discussed the regulatory challenges faced by New Zealand’s dairy sector. He pointed out that national regulations had previously hindered growth but mentioned that the country had recently abolished the methane tax and is working to improve sustainability through farmer empowerment.
Stevenson emphasized that water quality is a significant environmental challenge for New Zealand’s agriculture, with strategies being implemented to enhance water quality and address issues at the river catchment level. These measures aim to support the sustainable growth of New Zealand’s dairy industry.
