|  | Volume I, Issue IFebruary 2007 | | | |  | The Platform | | | Special Points of Interest - Initial Objectives Defined
- Appointment of Executive Director
| INSIDE THIS ISSUE
| | GDP defines initial priorities | | Executive Director Appointed | | GDP Vice Chairman visits Chicago | | Who's on the Board? | | GDP Milk Fat Programme to Kick off! | | GDP Appoints Expert Advisory Panel | | Share the latest--get the latest--GDP's new web interface | | New Members Join Up | | ED's Jottings |
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GDP Board Defines Initial Objectives | The Operational Board of GDP has agreed on the following objectives for GDP in 2007 on behalf of members.
Marketing and Communication
In order to follow the emerging scientific benefits of whey proteins in the diet on issues including weight management and blood pressure, one early area of work will focus on whey protein and develop global messages that can be used by members to support marketing and communications.
We will draw on the work completed by the European Whey Protein Association (EWPA), Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), and the United States Dairy Export Council (USDEC) relating to the benefits from the consumption of whey proteins. We will coordinate communication to promote the benefits and the value of milk proteins around the world. | Research and Development
With significant activity stressing messages against milk fat, there is a clear need to present a more ‘balanced view'. Several studies have indicated that the view expressed by anti-dairy groups is out of line with reality. There is, however, a need to develop a greater body of evidence. To achieve this GDP will seek to develop and coordinate a major multi-centre research programme to determine the true health impact of consuming milk fat.
Regulation
In recent months there has been significant activity in many parts of the world regarding the regulatory approach governments are seeking to take regarding trans fats. There is already significant research evidence that trans fats, such as CLA and its pre-cursor Vaccinic Acid, derived from ruminant | 
sources, are metabolized differently by humans and actually have beneficial effects. The Board has committed GDP to support those involved in discussions with regulators in the globalisation of positive messages regarding trans fats from ruminant sources.
During the year GDP will be discussing with members and prospective members the items for inclusion in future work, to remove duplication, enhance pre-competitive knowledge and strengthen messages. If you have any thoughts on the initial or future programmes contact Kevin Bellamy at kbellamy@
globaldairyplatform.com.
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Executive Director Appointed | | Kevin Bellamy, GDP's first Executive Director, officially took up his post on January 2nd. Bellamy joins GDP following a period as CEO at the Milk Development Council, the UK's statutory dairy marketing and research agency. Bellamy has also served as a Director of the UK Dairy Council. Based in Chicago at the GDP office, he will be responsible for putting the ambitious vision of the GDP Board into place. Bellamy commented, | "My enthusiasm to make this work is huge. I am convinced that we will succeed and that we will create major benefits for those involved in dairy around the world as a result."
An initial task for the new Executive Director will be to appoint the first members of the small GDP team including a Technical Director. "The aim is not to have a large staff," says Bellamy, "Instead we want to be | ‘fleet of foot,' pulling together small work groups to tackle matters, and then disbanding them when the job is done."
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GDP Vice Chairman visits Chicago | | GDP Vice Chairman Michael Stevns visited the GDP offices in Chicago this month in order to set out the Operational Board's plans for GDP's initial activities. Discussions with interim Executive Director, and Dairy Farmers of America board member, Don Schriver, and new Executive Director | Kevin Bellamy ranged from short term planning to the development of the GDP Vision. Stevns stressed the need for GDP to develop in a way which would be quick to react to developing situations, and to develop close communication and involvement with member organizations. "Communication is the key to developing GDP | as a major support to dairy companies and organizations around the world", said Stevns, whose own future is also developing. In June, he will take over as head of the influential Danish Dairy Board. However, he is likely to retain his responsibilities on the GDP Board on Arla Foods behalf at least for the remainder of 2007. | |
Who's on the Board |
Diary Date | The GDP Board is made up of the following: - Andrew Ferrier (Fonterra) - Chairman
- Michael Stevns (Arla Foods) - Vice Chairman
- Rick Smith - (Dairy Farmers of America)
- Justinus Sanders - (Campina)
- Peder Tubourg - (Arla Foods)
- Jim Begg - (International Dairy Federation)
- Jeremy Hill - (Fonterra)
- Don Schriver - (Dairy Farmers of America)
- Toon VanHooijdonk (Campina)
The development of GDP has been the responsibility of an Operational Board: Jeremy Hill, Jim Begg, Toon Van Hooijdonk and Don Schriver; chairman is Michael Stevns.
All current Board Members are drawn from the founding members of GDP. Within the first two years a governance structure will be developed to ensure future representation from across the entire GDP membership. | If you wish to raise a matter with the Board of GDP, please contact Michael Stevns at michael.stevns@
arlafoods.com
The First Global Dairy Platform Annual Meeting will take place during the Annual IDF summit in Dublin, 1-4 October 2007. This will be a half-day meeting ending in lunch.
Member Companies will be eligible for up to 3 places at the meeting with Associate Members limited to a single place. Arrangements and the programme for the meeting are currently being finalised and will be sent to members shortly. | |
GDP Milk Fat Workshop Announced | | GDP will commence work on its milk fat research objectives by hosting a workshop of leading scientists and research funders on the 12th and 13th of April this year in Chicago. The first day of the two day meeting will review the current state of the science. On the second day of the meeting we will review the regulatory environments which exist around the world and identify the future challenges we will have to | face. A facilitated discussion will identify the gaps in knowledge and the issues for which we need to generate further scientific evidence. The aim is to put into place a multi-centre global research programme to provide a robust platform of evidence.
"The programme will focus particularly on the relationship between milk fat and risk factors of cardiovascular disease, | as this is where much of the discussion is taking place," said Dr Greg Miller from DMI, who has been advising on the agenda for the meeting.
If you are a member company and have an interest in this area please contact Kevin Bellamy at kbellamy@
globaldairyplatform.com to arrange for your seat around the table. |
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GDP Appoints Expert Advisory Panel | To ensure that GDP has the best possible advice, we have formed a Communication and Scientifc Advisory Board comprising, so far, 5 of the leading names worldwide in health and nutrition research and dairy communication. Appointed to date are: - Prof. Shuichi Kaminogawa, from the Nihon University in Japan, who was awarded the prestigious IDF Award in 2006 and has published more than 350 research papers and many technical books on milk, milk products and lactic bacteria;
- Prof. Arne Astrup, is head of Department of Nutrition, University of Copenhagen, and is currently president of the International Association for the study of Obesity. He has published more that 500 scientific papers.
- Prof. Tom Saunders, research director of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, England;
- Professor Dr Frans Kok, from the Wageningen University, Netherlands, co-director of the European Nutrition Leadership Programme; and,
- Mr. Richard Lange from Dairy Australia, providing expert advise on marketing and communication strategies.
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Share the latest-Get the latest! | The GDP Member Web Portal has been designed to keep you up to date with the latest news and research from around the world in the area of Dairy Nutrition and Health. We plan to do this by adding as much information as possible, but also ask you to share your latest pre-competitive information. In return you get to keep up with research and knowledge from others in the network.
If you have information which you would like to contribute to | the knowledge base, please contact us and we will provide you with the appropriate instructions and protocols.
The site has two halves - A research database containing research on the GDP priority areas and other current research relevant to Milk and Dairy; and a Communications Database containing case studies of campaigns featured around the world and the benefits they have provided. | In addition we will display details and contact information for the resources available to the dairy industry around the world. If you represent a research centre or a dairy association, please pass us your details and we will be happy to list you.
To access the member portal you will need a password. To obtain your password please contact kbellamy@
globaldairyplatform.com or use the website at www.globaldairyplatform.com. | |
New Members Join Up |
Required... | | Tine of Norway has become the latest company to apply for membership of GDP. The makers of Jarlsberg Cheese will become the 12th member of the growing international consortium. Starting from a co-operative base, GDP now has widespread private support with the addition of Kraft, the second largest dairy processor in the world, and Danone, the largest seller of fresh dairy products in the world. Also joining GDP within the last month are Murray Goulburn with 35% of the Austrlian market | place, and American co-operative Land O'Lakes with over $3.9billion worth of sales annually. Joining as associate members we welcome packing / processing experts DeLaval /Tetra Pak and Co-bank the US co-operative bank and its affiliated organisations, Farm Credit of Western New York, Yankee Farm Credit, First Pioneer Farm Credit, Farm Credit of Maine and Northwest Farm Credit Services. | GDP is seeking a Senior Nutritional Scientist to head its Scientific Coordination work. Based in Chicago, the role will involve working with the Communication and Scientific Advisory Board to achieve GDP's science-based objectives. If you would like more information about the post please contact Kevin Bellamy at kbellamy@
globaldairyplatform.com. |
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w | | ED's Jottings Page 4 | | | | | Contact us: | 10255 West Higgins Road
Suite 820
Rosemont, Illinois
USA
60018-5616
Phone: 1-847-627-3386
Fax: 1-847-627-3380
E-mail: Kevin Bellamy at kbellamy@
globaldairyplatform.com
| | |  | | | Mission:
To provide insight, guidance and networking to enable the global dairy industry to promote and advocate milk and dairy
| Vision:
That the global dairy industry has united to enhance the image of milk and dairy
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| Welcome to the first Global Dairy Platform (GDP) monthly newsletter. If you are unfamiliar with GDP, that's because we are a brand new organization. Our mission is simple: "To provide insight, guidance and networking to enable the global dairy industry to promote and advocate milk and dairy." We are a non-profit membership organization, with membership fees based on dollar volumes processed. Associate Members such as Dairy Councils or Dairy Organizations are admitted at no charge providing that they are willing to share and receive information via the GDP network. When successful, we will achieve a vision of a "global dairy industry which has united to enhance the image of milk and dairy around the globe." If you are interested in joining the Global Dairy Platform-or would simply like to learn more about GDP - please contact me at kbellamy@globaldairyplatform.com.
What's the relationship with IDF?
A common question I've heard has been, "Isn't what you're doing the role of IDF?" GDP does not plan to duplicate the work of IDF but rather work closely with those in IDF to secure the best possible regulatory environment for dairy products. That's why IDF President Jim Begg sits on the Board of GDP, and that's why one of my first visits was to IDF Director General Christian Robert in Brussels. Christian and I agreed that there is much to be gained by maintaining a close working relationship between GDP and IDF, as GDP creates its network with commercial companies. | | | | |
GDP at IDFA Forum 2007
GDP Executive Director and GDP Board Member Don Schriver attended the IDFA Dairy Forum in Orlando, Florida, 14-17 January. The conference offered a great opportunity to meet with US and international processors and explain to them the rationale behind GDP's establishment . |
Bellamy to speak at Global Dairy Congress |  | During the trip, Bellamy and Schriver addressed the DMI board officers to communicate the benefits provided by a close working relationship with DMI.
The forum was an excellent chance to meet the trade media and spread the knowledge of GDP to processors from across America and further afield. | For copies of this
newsletter
email
kbellamy@
globaldairy
platform.com | GDP Executive Director Kevin Bellamy will be speaking at the First Global Dairy Congress organized by Zenith International in association with Dairy Innovation magazine. The conference, entitled "Healthy Opportunity," will take place at the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam, 27-29 March 2007. For further details contact Zenith International at info@zipublishing.com. |
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