- 9th IDF International Symposium opens in Anand, spotlighting sheep, goat, camel and alternative milks
- Climate resilience, nutrition security and pastoral livelihoods take centre stage
- India’s leadership in diversified dairy hailed by IDF, FAO and global experts
- Seven high-impact technical sessions to shape standards, science and sustainability
- From rangelands to retail, symposium charts the next frontier of dairy growth
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
ANAND, FEB 10
Gilles Froment, President, IDF, addressing delegates on sustainability and global dairy priorities.-NE photo
The 9th IDF International Symposium on Sheep, Goat, Camel & other Non-Bovine Milk, organised by the Indian National Committee of the International Dairy Federation (INC-IDF), commenced at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Anand, on Monday and will continue till Wednesday, marking a major global convergence on the future of diversified dairy.
The inaugural session was graced by Gilles Froment, President, IDF; Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB, Board Member, IDF and Secretary, INC-IDF; Dr Naveena B. Maheswarappa, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India; Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India; Laurence Rycken, Director General, IDF, along with IDF Board Members, academics, industry leaders, milk producers, processors, policymakers and professionals from across the global dairy ecosystem.
A Global Platform for Non-Bovine Dairy Transformation
The symposium has brought together over 90 international and national delegates, reinforcing its stature as a key global forum on non-bovine milk. Seven technical sessions will deliberate on emerging markets and consumer trends; livelihoods and smallholder empowerment; farm management and sustainability; processing technologies and quality innovations; nutritional specificities and bio-functionalities; biosecurity and disease management; and global standards and policies for non-bovine milk.
Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB, outlining India’s science-led roadmap for non-bovine dairy growth.-NE photo
Posters highlighting advances in non-bovine milk research are being showcased, while exhibitors are presenting innovations in technology, services and processing solutions, underscoring the sector’s growing commercial and developmental relevance.
IDF President Flags Sustainability and Global Opportunity
Addressing the gathering, Gilles Froment, President, IDF, underlined the importance of goat, sheep and camel milk as sustainable dairy options, particularly for regions facing harsh climatic conditions. He outlined six core priorities—environment, animal welfare, nutrition, food safety, health and inclusivity—while noting that global milk output has crossed one billion tonnes, though growth remains uneven.
Highlighting India’s nearly 25 per cent share in global milk production, he called for expansion of non-bovine dairy through food safety, innovation and robust nutrition data, stressing IDF’s role in shaping global standards. He urged deeper collaboration and climate-resilient practices, especially ahead of the FAO’s 2026 International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists.
NDDB Charts Science-Led Scale-Up
In his address, Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB, highlighted the rising significance of non-bovine milk as climate-resilient, nutrition-supporting and women-led, recalling India’s transformation from milk scarcity to self-sufficiency through Operation Flood.
He stressed sustained growth through cooperatives and scientific programmes such as the National Dairy Plan, detailing NDDB initiatives including the Animal Disease Control Programme, free vaccination against FMD and brucellosis, disease surveillance, and advanced breeding technologies such as sex-sorted semen and genomic tools to enhance productivity.
Citing progress in goat artificial insemination and camel milk marketing through Amul’s Sarhad Dairy, he urged scaling up such models to ensure farmers capture consumer value. He called for collaboration beyond research, focusing on sustainability, processing, disease management and nutrition to unlock the full potential of non-bovine milk.
Policy Push for Climate-Friendly Dairy
Dr Naveena B. Maheswarappa, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Government of India, underscored the symposium’s relevance in the context of the UN’s 2026 International Year of Grazing Lands & Pastoralists. He noted India’s sustainable food consumption patterns and the growing demand for diversified animal protein.
Calling non-bovine milk nutrient-rich and climate-friendly, he highlighted sheep, goat and camel value chains as low-carbon systems, often rooted in organic and free-range practices. He emphasised the need for advanced processing technologies, strong certification systems, traceability and cluster-based, science-led approaches to build resilient, nature-positive and high-value dairy value chains.
FAO and IDF Reaffirm Global Commitment
Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India, stressed the strategic role of camel, goat and sheep milk in India’s dairy future. Drawing on experiences from Rajasthan and Kutch, including Sarhad Dairy, he highlighted growing recognition of camel milk’s nutritional value and called for stronger scientific research in collaboration with ICMR.
Expressing confidence in NDDB’s leadership, he said India could witness major growth in goat and camel milk development, reaffirming FAO’s commitment to work with NDDB and the Government of India to improve pastoralist livelihoods.
Setting the tone for the symposium, Laurence Rycken, Director General, IDF, thanked INC-IDF and NDDB, recognising India’s leadership in science-driven, inclusive dairy development. She noted that climate change, urbanisation and shifting consumer expectations are reshaping the dairy sector, positioning non-bovine milk as vital for regions such as India, the Middle East and Africa.
Highlighting India’s dairy diversity and the central role of women, she called for data-driven, practical strategies to overcome value-chain barriers, connect regions and expertise, and strengthen sustainability, reaffirming the global commitment to nourishing people and supporting livelihoods.
