Global Dairy Leaders Commit to Sustainable Practices at IDF World Summit

The IDF World Dairy Summit Santiago 2025, the first of its kind in South America, brought together more than 1,090 delegates from 48 countries, accounting for 60% of the global dairy market. Organized by the International Dairy Federation (IDF) with support from the Consorcio Lechero, Fedeleche, and the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture, the summit focused on food security and sustainable milk production.

A significant outcome of the summit was the ratification of the Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability (PDDS), a framework aimed at measuring progress in environmental, social, and economic aspects of dairy production. This declaration builds upon the Rotterdam Dairy Declaration of 2016, expanding its commitments to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and supported by the FAO.

The IDF-FAO 2025 report highlighted that the initiative has received over 1,000 commitments from 154 organizations across 42 countries, underscoring a growing global collaboration. Key participants included major producers from China, India, the EU, New Zealand, and the US.

Gilles Froment, IDF president, noted the importance of the declaration in global forums such as the FAO Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation 2025 and COP30. He emphasized that the transition from the Rotterdam to the Paris declaration signifies increased ambition and action.

The summit also showcased Chile's alignment with global sustainability standards through initiatives like Chile Origen Consciente, which promotes responsible practices across the dairy value chain. Chile's annual milk production exceeds 2.4 million litres, with per capita consumption above the global average, supported by a public-private collaboration model.

Dr. Jamie Jonker was honored as an honorary member of the IDF for his leadership as chair of the IDF Science and Programme Coordination Committee, highlighting his contributions to advancing the global dairy sector.