Santiago, Chile: The IDF World Dairy Summit 2025, the first-ever global dairy event held in South America, concluded in Santiago with participating nations pledging to advance food security and sustainable milk production through the Paris Declaration on Sustainable Dairy Development (PDDS).
Organized by the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and supported by Consorcio Lechero, Fedeleche, and Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture, the summit brought together more than 1,090 delegates from 48 countries, representing 60% of the global dairy market. Over four days, the event featured 90 technical sessions covering climate change, animal welfare, technology, production efficiency, gender inclusion, public health, and marketing strategies.
The newly ratified PDDS builds upon the Rotterdam Dairy Declaration of 2016, expanding its scope to measurable and verifiable commitments aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supported by the FAO. According to the IDF–FAO 2025 report, more than 1,000 commitments have already been recorded from 154 organizations across 42 countries, demonstrating growing international collaboration within the sector.
IDF President Gilles Froment highlighted the declaration’s importance for upcoming global forums such as the FAO Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation 2025 and COP30, noting that the move from Rotterdam to Paris represents “a shift from intent to tangible action.”
Thanawat Tiensin, FAO Assistant Director-General, stated, “The Paris Declaration on Sustainability, jointly developed by FAO and IDF, aims to ensure better production, nutrition, environment, and life.” He underscored that global cooperation is essential to achieving measurable progress.
The IDF has also launched a platform for voluntary commitments from dairy companies and organizations, featuring transparent tracking mechanisms and measurable indicators. This initiative continues the sector’s legacy of sustainability efforts, from the Global Dairy Agenda for Action (2009) to today’s global frameworks.
Leading dairy organizations, including Grupo Gloria, FrieslandCampina, Dairy Farmers of Canada, China Dairy Industry Association, Fair Cape Dairies, Valio, Yili Group, Conaprole, and Nestlé, reaffirmed their commitments to sustainable dairy practices during the summit.
Chile’s dairy sector showcased its alignment with global sustainability standards through initiatives such as Chile Origen Consciente, a Ministry of Agriculture program promoting responsible practices throughout the value chain. Octavio Oltra, Manager of the Dairy Consortium, said the event reinforced Chile’s commitment to “quality, technological innovation, and climate action.” Chile produces over 2.4 million liters of milk annually, with per capita consumption above the global average.
The global dairy industry continues to adopt a holistic sustainability approach, integrating natural resource management, biodiversity protection, and circular economy principles, while ensuring nutritious, safe food and resilient communities.
In other developments, the IDF General Assembly conferred Honorary Membership upon Dr. Jamie Jonker for his exceptional leadership during his five-year tenure as Chair of the IDF Science and Program Coordination Committee (SPCC). Under his guidance, the SPCC advanced critical projects within the federation’s Program of Work.
Reflecting on his recognition, Dr. Jonker said, “It has been an honour to serve the global dairy sector over the last five years. The work that the IDF has conducted during that time has advanced the sector in numerous ways. I will certainly remain involved.”