In an effort to find new markets for your milk, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. has entered into a ground-breaking partnership with other dairy industry leaders worldwide. The partnership, Global Dairy Platform (GDP), was created to sustain and expand the demand for dairy products.

The founding members include DFA; Denmark’s Arla Foods, Inc.; The Netherlands’ Campina; and New Zealand’s Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd.

“We’re looking for a bigger piece of the pie for dairy,” explains Don Schriver, GDP’s former interim executive director. “There are avenues that haven’t been explored.” Schriver, who recently retired as DFA’s executive vice president, has extensive experience in international business development. Kevin Bellamy, chief executive officer of the United Kingdom’s Milk Development Council, will now head the non-profit alliance, which is headquartered in Chicago.

The founders of GDP created the organization in recognition of a need to explore emerging opportunities and combat negative perceptions about milk. In particular, the group plans to generate growth of the whole dairy category on behalf of dairy farmers, the industry and consumers worldwide by:

• More efficiently using its resources by reducing duplication of pre-competitive market research and promotion resources – although GDP will conduct no research on its own.
• Steering pre-competitive scientific research – again GDP will conduct no research on its own.
• Successfully developing global communication concepts.
• Advising the dairy industry on effective regulatory positions.
• Being recognized as a source of information and coordination for the global dairy community.
• Enhancing the image of milk and dairy.

With these opportunities, though, are challenges. Schriver points out that the health benefits of milk and dairy products have been challenged by special interest groups and that the dairy industry faces greater competition from products such as soy, soft drinks, so-called health drinks and vegetable oil – all of which threaten to erode market share. He adds that while dairy consumption continues to grow in developing economies, it is slowing in many developing countries.
Membership is open to all dairy companies and organizations around the world. Two new groups have already joined the founding members, and five have applied for membership.