A key remit of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland (DCNI) is that of forging relationships with likeminded bodies throughout Europe and beyond.
The result has been a pooling of resources that has allowed these organisations to deliver more comprehensive, collaborative programmes of action than would have ever been the case otherwise.
According to the DCNI, one such valuable partnership it has forged is its long-term commitment to, and membership, of the European Milk Forum (EMF).
DCNI chief executive Ian Stevenson explained: “In practical terms, it has proven to be an investment that has delivered substantial returns for both the dairy industry in Northern Ireland and local consumers.
“The forum board typically meets quarterly to help coordinate EMF strategy and implementation plans.
“It is a non-profit organisation which plays a vital role in driving the strategic development, management, and exchange of integrated information initiatives on milk and dairy across Europe.”
Stevenson said that EMF’s aim is to highlight the important role of dairy in agriculture.
“Underpinning all the forum’s activities is a commitment by members to communicate the role that dairy plays in delivering true sustainability within production agriculture, while also profiling dairy’s nutritional value with health professionals, scientists and academics,” he said.
EMF’s membership is drawn from nine countries across Europe – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Stevenson said: “A universally recognised hallmark of the organisation is to work continuously on a proactive basis. This is an approach that has paid specific dividends here in Northern Ireland on numerous occasions.
“Indeed, it is worthy of note that DCNI was one of the Forum’s founding members.
“This salient fact reflects the leadership that has long been shown by Northern Ireland’s dairy sector, both at farmer and processor level, in promoting the role of dairy to a broad consumer base with true innovation.”
According to the DCNI representative, by combining the resources of its member organisations, as well as successfully accessing EU promotional funds over many years, the forum has been able to fund numerous information-based initiatives.
These have made a real impact regarding the evolving role of dairy within a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Stevenson added: “The same approach has been taken when it comes to the promotion and development of sustainable dairy farming systems.
“This has allowed forum members to interface with scientists, health and nutrition professionals, farming stakeholder bodies, government and political representatives and other stakeholder groups that operate across Europe and beyond in a more than meaningful way.
“And, of course, all of these networks and information resources developed through EMF have been adapted and utilised locally by DCNI to communicate the exciting story of dairy here in Northern Ireland.
“And this work continues apace.”
