India Hosts 9th IDF Symposium on Expanding Non-Bovine Milk Systems
The 9th International Dairy Federation (IDF) Symposium on Sheep, Goat, Camel and Other Non-Bovine Milk was held at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Anand, India, commencing on February 9, 2026. This three-day event was organized by the Indian National Committee of the IDF, placing India at the forefront of global discussions on diversified and climate-resilient dairy systems.
During the inaugural session, IDF President Gilles Froment highlighted the resilience of goat, sheep, and camel milk systems, noting their alignment with global priorities on environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and inclusive nutrition. He stressed that the long-term expansion of non-bovine dairy is contingent upon innovation, robust nutrition data, and strict adherence to international standards.
NDDB Chairman Dr Meenesh Shah discussed India’s larger dairy transformation, emphasizing initiatives in disease control, advanced breeding, and goat artificial insemination. He cited Amul’s Sarhad Dairy as a successful model for organized camel milk marketing and advocated for similar scale-ups across regions.
Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr Naveena B. Maheswarappa underscored the need for science-led, cluster-based development models to build resilient non-bovine dairy value chains. She advocated for integrated disease management, quality assurance, and market linkage strategies as critical components for aligning production with domestic and export requirements.
FAO Representative Takayuki Hagiwara acknowledged India's progress in promoting goat, sheep, and camel milk, citing successful initiatives in Rajasthan and Kutch. He noted the need for further research investments and stronger value-chain integration to unlock the sector's full potential.
The symposium featured seven technical sessions covering topics such as emerging markets, consumer trends, farm management, and processing technologies. Discussions reflected growing global interest in non-bovine milk for specialized nutrition, functional foods, and premium segments, while also recognizing challenges related to scale, standardization, and consumer awareness.
Overall, the symposium reinforced India's rising influence in shaping the global non-bovine dairy agenda, highlighting its role in leading innovation, standards development, and inclusive growth in the sector.
