Global Dairy Platform is in the process of charting its future. Launched at the 2006 IDF World Dairy Summit and opened for business in Chicago in early 2007, GDP has grown from four founding members to more than 50 members worldwide. The organisation has enlarged its ranks at a rate of more than one new member per week. GDP’s commercial members have a collective turnover of well in excess of $100Bn (US). The consortium also comprises most of the leading dairy scientific and communication bodies and trade associations from around the world.

GDP now is focused on articulating a five-year strategic plan to move the organisation forward.

GDP’s mission remains “To provide insight, guidance and networking to enable the global dairy industry to promote and advocate milk and dairy”, although there is a feeling amongst the four founding CEOs that this does not sufficiently impart the purpose of “increasing the market for milk and dairy by better utilising nutritional science and removing unwarranted barriers”.

Championing key messages
To fulfill its mission, GDP cannot simply aim to replace existing communication activities. GDP lacks the resources to sponsor campaigns targeting consumers or health professionals, nor would it have the local knowledge required for such campaigns. Therefore, GDP’s role needs to “champion” messages on shared issues that will enhance, focus and provide consistency in existing communication from member companies and associations. This will only be possible if the issues are compatible with existing communication from member companies and associations.

Coordinating regulatory issues

Similarly, it would not be wise for GDP to engage directly with regulators, unless it is by agreement with existing advocates and trade associations. Instead, GDP’s role in regulatory affairs is to achieve, by agreement with local associations, a more coordinated and effective way of challenging unwarranted regulation across markets.

Filling scientific gaps

Finally, GDP does not seek to become a major funder of science in its own right. Instead, it aims to influence existing funding agencies to fill in research gaps to allow better exploitation of science by the commercial sector. There also is benefit in establishing consortia to provide research funds for particular studies. Such consortia can reduce the cost of researching pre-competitive issues, while making sure that the findings are relevant across markets and preventing duplicative original research on new populations.

Expanding dairy’s demand

Therefore, GDP aims to focus on those issues that have the greatest potential to unlock un-tapped dairy demand in markets around the world by championing a combination of coordinated actions by companies and associations. Since GDP has no power to implement work, except through agreement, the subject areas are likely to be those that already have been in circulation but have not reached full market potential.

Advisory Board’s recommendations
Based upon advice from the Communications and Scientific Advisory Board and widespread member consultation, we are proposing four areas where concerted effort would be of maximum benefit for the dairy industry:

1) Nutrient richness
Some GDP members already discuss dairy’s essential nutrients as part of their existing communication. GDP will aim to achieve more consistent messages about nutrient function. We intend to share information and scientific evidence to support nutrient function claims, and support a unified approach to nutrient profiling models to bolster the nutritional benefits of dairy.

2) Weight management
Many organisations have sought to associate dairy with weight management, either through scientific arguments that the calcium content of dairy influences weight management, by focusing on “low fat” product ranges or by adding appetite suppressants to products.

However, the failure of some studies to replicate the science and a debate over the processes involved have limited the use and impact of weight management messages. Therefore, GDP will work to strengthen the message that “dairy is not the problem” with weight gain and work with the science community to clarify that “dairy can be part of the solution”.

3) Hypertension
At its last meeting, the GDP Board of Directors considered hypertension a “low- hanging fruit” for the dairy industry, supported by evidence that links dairy and lower blood pressure as reported in the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) studies. In both studies, however, dairy is connected with lower hypertension in a diet that also includes fruit and vegetables.

An association between dairy and reduced blood pressure will be highly valuable, given the impact of high blood pressure on the world’s population. The World Health Organisation reports hypertension as a major cause of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure, affecting 26.4 percent or 972 million of the world’s population. The WHO estimates that by 2025 the impact will rise to 29.2 percent, or 1.56 billion. Hypertension is part of a complex of disorders associated with obesity known as metabolic syndrome.

4) Dairy terms
In recent years, there have been reports of “increasing” use of the protected designations of milk and milk products for soy-based products, e.g. “soy milk” or “soy cheese”. The designation of milk products is protected within the Codex Alimentarius standard 206-1999, which has been incorporated into many regional regulations. However, these regulations are being challenged by new products that transgress the law, and by lobbying for soya, and other substitute products, to be admitted to the “dairy” designation.

Recognising that many dairy companies have soya products as part of their product portfolio, we need to work to prevent consumer confusion, which will erode the dairy market. Therefore, we need to start to challenge some of the illegal use of dairy terms.

Process and next steps
As next steps, GDP will consult with members to seek the widest possible agreement of activities to implement the communications, scientific and regulatory objectives. As part of the discussions, GDP will continue to seek to understand the best range of support materials and evidence base for the work being undertaken, and to work on the provision of these support activities throughout the remainder of 2008.

A progress report on implementation will be prepared for the GDP Annual Meeting, to be held in Mexico City on Monday 10 November 2008.

- Kevin Bellamy is the Executive Director of Global Dairy Platform.