The World Dairy Summit 2024, held in Paris, became a platform for India’s dairy sector to demonstrate its innovation and commitment to sustainability. Three Indian dairy organizations were recognized for their groundbreaking contributions in sustainable farming and processing practices.
Sundarban Cooperative Milk & Livestock Producers’ Union Limited (Sundarini), an all-women cooperative from West Bengal, made history by winning the Innovation in Sustainable Farming Practices – Socio-Economic Award 2024. Sundarini is the first all-women organic dairy cooperative in India, comprised of 4,500 women farmers from the South 24 Parganas district. The cooperative produces 2,000 liters of milk and 250 kilograms of processed milk products daily. Their efforts have contributed significantly to the local economy, generating an income of Rs 4 crore for rural women in the 2023-24 financial year.
In addition to Sundarini’s success, the Asha Mahila Milk Producer Organisation was awarded the Innovation in Sustainable Processing Award. This recognition highlights their pioneering efforts in developing sustainable methods for processing dairy products.
India’s iconic dairy brand, Amul, was honoured with the IDF Dairy Innovation Award 2024 for its innovative use of homeopathic medicine in dairy animals. This practice aims to combat antimicrobial resistance, a growing global concern in the livestock sector.
The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), a key supporter of these organizations, has played a crucial role by providing both technical and financial assistance. These achievements not only emphasize the importance of innovation and sustainability in the dairy sector but also underline the transformative power of women-led enterprises in fostering inclusive growth and leadership.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her pride in Sundarini’s accomplishment, taking to social media to celebrate the cooperative’s success. “We emerged victorious from among 153 global entries,” Banerjee tweeted. She praised the cooperative’s entrepreneurial spirit, highlighting their contribution to empowering rural women in the Sundarbans region.
The third edition of the IDF Dairy Innovation Awards, which took place on Friday, was a key event in the global dairy community, focusing on innovative and sustainable practices. The event saw the launch of the Paris Dairy Declaration, which reaffirms the global dairy sector’s commitment to sustainability.
Representatives from various governments and dairy leaders from across the world came together to endorse the declaration, which aims to transform the dairy sector by improving livelihoods, promoting environmental stewardship, and contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and President of the Indian National Committee of IDF, highlighted India’s leadership role in promoting sustainability in the dairy sector.
She noted that milk contributes 4% to India’s GDP and supports over 80 million rural families. Upadhyaya emphasized the importance of farmer-focused policies, public-private partnerships, and the use of renewable energy in dairy production under White Revolution 2.0.
Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman of NDDB, also participated in signing the Paris Dairy Declaration. He stressed that while sustainability is critical, protecting the livelihoods of dairy farmers, who feed billions and provide jobs to millions globally, must remain a priority.
Shah reaffirmed India’s commitment to balancing development with sustainability through initiatives focused on reducing methane emissions, promoting scientific nutrition, and achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the dairy industry.
By endorsing the Paris Dairy Declaration, the global dairy sector reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability, following the Rotterdam Dairy Declaration of 2016. This renewed focus on sustainability highlights dairy’s role in achieving the SDGs and enhancing rural livelihoods worldwide.