Dairy Sector Workshop Highlights Nutrition, Sustainability, and Innovation Goals

...Arla Foods, Denmark Consulate, and FC4S Unite Stakeholders to Boost National Nutrition Strategies

Arla Foods, a farmer-owned dairy cooperative, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Denmark and the Financial Centre for Sustainability (FC4S), recently convened a high-level workshop aimed at strengthening the dairy sector's role in advancing Nigeria's national nutrition objectives.

The event, titled "Nutrition in the Dairy Sector," gathered a diverse array of stakeholders, including government officials, regulators, farmers, nutrition experts, policymakers, and industry leaders. The workshop addressed challenges and opportunities within the dairy industry, focusing on improving nutrition, promoting sustainability, and enhancing access to quality dairy products.

Participants explored strategies to elevate the nutritional contribution of dairy products to the national diet while promoting sustainable production practices along the value chain. Discussions also emphasized the need for robust policy and regulatory frameworks to foster growth and innovation in the sector.

Dr. Eva Edwards, Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), emphasized the importance of collaboration between regulators and the industry to enhance consumer education and drive sectoral growth. "Platforms like this workshop are essential for creating awareness and fostering collaboration to integrate dairy into our national nutrition goals," she remarked.

Other key regulators and stakeholders included Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Sahel Consulting, Helen Keller, Milk Value chain Foundation and amongst others offering attendees an opportunity to engage in critical dialogue on this topic. Participants took part in a series of breakout sessions focused on key areas of the dairy sector, including Nutrition and Public Health, Improving Dairy Quality and Safety, Sustainability in Dairy Production, Innovation and Technology in Dairy Processing, and Policy, Economics, and Access.  These sessions allowed stakeholders to deliberate, collaborate and share insights on how to drive growth and overcome barriers within the sector. 

“As we look to the future, I am inspired by the collective vision and commitment I've seen from the dairy industry to address critical issues around nutrition and access,” said Peder Pedersen, Managing Director, Arla Foods Nigeria. “At Arla, we firmly believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality, nutritious dairy products, and that this requires us all to work together—not just as industry members or competitors, but as partners with a shared responsibility for the health and well-being of the Nigerian people.”

“Our gathering today underscores the importance of collaboration and knowledge, sharing across the borders and bringing together expertise, insights and resources that can drive the positive change everybody is looking for. The challenges we face in nutrition and sustainable agriculture require a shared commitment, especially when it comes to developing innovative solutions that can improve food security, health and livelihoods in general. This is an area where Denmark and Nigeria can achieve great things together,” said  Her Excellency Ms. Jette Bjerrum, the Danish Consul General.

Arla Foods plans to collaborate with more dairy industry leaders on similar workshops in future to further drive the nutrition agenda in Nigeria together.