The dairy sector stands at a transformative crossroads as it faces increasing pressure to address sustainability and environmental challenges. Against this backdrop, the IDF Circularity in the Dairy Chain Symposium 2024, taking place on December 3-4, 2024, online, is set to offer an event for exchanging insights and innovations. This symposium will focus on showcasing circularity practices across the dairy value chain. From reducing food loss and waste to leveraging renewable energy and maximizing the value of byproducts, this event promises showcase actions for a circular dairy economy.

Key Highlights and Speakers

A series of expert-led sessions will cover innovations and practical applications in dairy circularity. Featured speakers include:

• Mangla will delve into global practices for integrating circular principles into dairy systems, addressing both barriers and enablers.
• Ignacio Gavilán will explore how food banking initiatives can help redirect surplus dairy products, reduce emissions, and combat food insecurity.
• Carlos Martín Óvilo from the European Commission will highlight the European Union’s policy framework to promote circularity in livestock, with a focus on integrating sustainability into farming and dairy production systems. Discussions will cover EU regulations and incentives supporting circular practices and renewable energy applications in the dairy sector.
• McAllister will examine how livestock management can align with circular principles, focusing on waste reduction and resource efficiency.
• McAuliffe’s session will highlight innovative uses of dairy by-products to create new value streams, such as bio-based materials.
• D’Incecco will share advancements in converting dairy waste into eco-friendly packaging solutions.

These and other sessions will tackle practical challenges and share case studies on achieving sustainability through innovative technologies and policies.

Policy: A Crucial Lever for Circularity

The transition to a circular dairy economy also hinges on enabling policies. Discussions at the symposium will explore regulatory frameworks that incentivize waste reduction and byproduct utilization and facilitate cross-sector collaboration to strengthen circular practices.

Circular Solutions for Manure and Dairy By-products

The symposium will also explore how to maximize the value of dairy farming and dairy processing by-products. Employing circular feeds, transforming manurethese by-products into bioenergy and organic fertilizers, or upscaling dairy processing by-products into nutraceutics or raw materials for packaging not only reduces environmental impact but also adds economic value. These approaches underline the importance of circularity in every segment of the dairy chain.

The IDF Circularity in the Dairy Chain Symposium 2024 is more than just a conference—it’s a call to action. By bringing together science, innovation, and policy, the event aims to catalyze a shift toward a sustainable and circular dairy economy. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the conversation shaping the future of dairy.

For registration and the full program, visit the IDF official event page.