GDP Working to Embed Strong Communication with IDF
From the outset, Global Dairy Platform has sought to strengthen relationships with related organisations though better coordination and sharing of knowledge. For this to take place, excellent communication is needed among those involved.
With this in mind, I have been particularly keen to establish good communications with the International Dairy Federation (IDF), speaking at several National Committee meetings and attending the Management Committee and Council Meetings in June. IDF members are key players at the important Codex Alimentarius negotiations where a positive outcome for dairy can have a dramatic effect on profitability across the sector. One example is the recent protection of the protein conversion factor for milk protein and soy protein at 6.38 and 5.71, respectively. Another is the acceptance of the 16 Codex Standards for named cheese varieties, also adopted at the latest Codex Commission meeting in Rome.
To ensure that our members are able to influence the priorities of IDF, GDP is working on a number of fronts to establish clear communication routes. They include: working with the IDF Standing Committee on Marketing and the GDP member marketing experts to establish a common high-level method of market analysis; inviting an IDF regulatory expert to join the GDP Communication and Scientific Advisory Board; establishing a joint working group with IDF on regulation; providing the IDF Standing Committee on Nutrition and Health with additional resources from the GDP Technical Director to help coordinate activities; and jointly operating the research database that GDP is building to coordinate the scientific evidence required to reach GDP’s objectives.
The strong alliance that is developing between GDP and IDF should allow GDP members to feed their priorities to the heart of IDF, as well as support the key work that IDF carries out on behalf of the industry worldwide, without damaging the independent and academic image that has been so important to IDF in its regulatory negotiations.
Kevin Bellamy, GDP Executive Director