The three-year strategic plan endorsed by the Global Dairy Platform Board of Directors sets out key areas of focus and prioritizes activity. The subject areas have been based upon the advice of the GDP Communication and Scientific Advisory Board.

· Nutrient Content and Density
The first – and greatest – priority area is to improve consistency of communications regarding the nutrients in dairy products. While most organisations talk about dairy nutrient content as part of promotional activities, there is widespread inconsistency about what the list of nutrients includes and how their functions are discussed.

Discussion about milk constituents is particularly important in a regulatory context with regard to nutrient profiling models. Under the strategy, GDP will support activities to promote the principles of the nutrient profiling system being advocated by the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition in other markets.

The need for provision of nutrients in the diet will also provide a link to discussions regarding sustainability. Provision of foods that contain essential nutrients in a sustainable way is an important issue. Because of its nutrient density, dairy’s environmental impact compared to its effect in the human diet is low compared to some other food types.

Nutrient content and density also forms the basis for comparison with substitute products. Alternatives to dairy are frequently entering the market using dairy terms and claiming to have similar attributes. Providing evidence of nutrient content and availability to compare dairy with these “imposter” products will allow dairy to defend its space.

· Weight Management
Building on the nutrient content and density activities, the Advisory Board also highlights the potential for greater communication in the area of dairy and weight management. There already are widespread observational studies that suggest a link between dairy and weight management. As a result, products aimed at the slimming market are being developed, and there are a number of scientific studies underway to identify mechanisms involving dairy calcium or the satiating effects of dairy that impact weight management. Highlighting the function of dairy nutrients in the early parts of the plan will allow development of science and communication into strong messages that will link dairy and weight management in later stages of the plan.

· Blood Pressure Control
Emphasizing once again the nutrients in dairy products, GDP plans to develop a focus on dairy and blood pressure management. An increasing area of concern in both developed and developing markets, hypertension and pre-hypertension increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and renal failure. GDP aims to further increase the profile of the link between dairy and healthy blood pressure and product innovation aimed at enhancing blood pressure management, a subject identified by the Advisory Board as a “low hanging fruit” and already widely discussed in the context of the DASH study.

· Milk Fat

Milk fat is probably one of the most controversial areas of GDP’s discussions. Reversing scientific opinion of saturated fat is not viewed as credible and the reduction of fat levels in products continues to be attractive in the market place. While this is the case, there continues to be considerable scientific and regulatory interest in milk fat. The three-year strategy proposes a role for GDP in creating consensus of which activities to pursue in this area and the responses required to fulfill them.


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