Danone’s CEO Antoine de Saint Affrique this week delivered a speech at the World Dairy Summit in Paris about the importance of dairy and the challenges faced by the industry. M. Janusz Wojciechowski, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, introduced Saint Affrique, who spoke alongside other industry leaders.
The World Dairy Summit is an annual event bringing together key stakeholders from the global dairy industry, including producers, processors, suppliers, and policy-makers. The summit serves as a platform for discussing pressing issues, innovations, and opportunities in the dairy sector, ranging from sustainability and nutrition to market trends and technological advancements.
As we look ahead to COP16 and COP29, Antoine de Saint Affrique said:
“Dairy products, particularly yogurt, are among the most nutrient-dense foods available, providing healthy diets for billions of people worldwide. Dairy farmers, however, are facing numerous challenges, such as the impact of climate change and mounting financial pressures. Farmers are the solution, not the problem. Through collective action, we believe they can play a crucial role in combatting climate change and regenerating nature.
“With over 100 years of history in dairy, we are proud to support farmers to make the sector fit for the next generation, but systemic challenge requires collective effort. As we approach the negotiations at COP16 and COP29, public-private partnerships must work harder to unlock the financing farmers need to drive the transition to sustainable food systems, safeguard livelihoods, and ensure food security for generations to come.”
