IFCN: Dairy consumption in East & Southeast Asia is on an increasing trend

The conference highlighted various trends and challenges facing the dairy industry, both locally in Asia and globally.

A special focus of this year’s conference was the “Asian dairies: standing locally, thinking globally” topic day, which shed light on the dynamic shifts in dairy consumption within East and Southeast Asia. According to IFCN, there is a notable upward trend in dairy intake in these regions.

In Japan, the government’s implementation of milk programs in school lunches has dual benefits: improving the physical health of children and bolstering the local dairy sector. This initiative also aims to elevate milk prices to benefit domestic producers, reflecting a strategic move to enhance the nutritional status of students while supporting local agriculture.

The conference also discussed the transformation in Japanese dairy consumption over the past two decades. While the demand for liquid milk has seen a decline, there has been a significant rise in the consumption of imported dairy products, particularly cheese. This shift underscores changing dietary preferences and the increasing influence of Western food habits in Japan.