 JUNE
'White Paper' report reveals strong prospects for dairy
The current surge in milk prices - driven by world demand - is
being underpinned in the UK by the dairy industry preparing structurally
for the future and remaining strongly focused on adding value to
milk.
The assessment of the prospects for the industry was made today
(Friday June 29) in the “The White Paper”, A Report
on the UK Dairy Industry. The full report is available at http://www.dairyuk.org/pdf/whitepaper07.pdf
Launching the White Paper today, Jim Begg, Director General of
Dairy UK said: “We believe it is important to provide an
overview of the dairy industry in the UK and how the UK dairy market
interacts with the European and World dairy markets.
more>>
Dairy UK/MDC Scholarship Winner to join dairy industry
elite at IDF 2007 World Dairy Summit
The movers and the shakers from the global dairy industry will
be meeting in Dublin at the end of September for the World Dairy
Summit and the lucky winner of the Dairy UK/MDC Scholarship will
be joining them.
The theme for the International Dairy Federation’s 2007
Summit is “Dairying – can it manage change?” which
is highly appropriate for an industry that is evolving rapidly
through new product innovation and technological and scientific
advancement.
The scholarship, which is open to anyone aged under 35 years of
age who is currently employed in any capacity in the UK dairy industry,
will cover all summit fees, return flights to and from the UK to
Dublin, six nights’ single accommodation, attendance at the
opening and closing dinners, and a one-day technical tour.
more>>
MAY
Dairy UK response to RABDF/NFU report: Dairy industry
must stay focused on efficiency and innovation
Dairy UK said today (Thursday May 3) that the industry must stay
focused on achieving greater efficiency and developing new products
to secure a more prosperous future.
Reponding to the publication today of ‘British Milk – What
Price 2007?’ by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers
and the National Farmers’ Union, Jim Begg, Director General,
Dairy UK said: “Today’s report highlights an increasing
cost burden for farmers and it is the case that increasing costs
are a factor throughout the supply chain.
more>>
UK cheese industry at "crucial crossroads",
says Curry
The UK cheese industry is at a ‘crucial crossroads’ and
must be given the chance to seize the wide range of opportunities
ahead, according to David Curry, MP, Chairman of Dairy UK.
Speaking today at a special summit on the future of the cheese
industry, Mr Curry said the UK cheese sector has substantial growth
prospects and product innovation is increasing daily.
He added that cheese manufacturers see promise in markets all
over the world and realise that continuous new product development
is a key priority.
Mr Curry also said that cheese manufacturers were frustrated by
a lack of positive messages from government on the nutritional
benefits of cheese.
He said: “Government agencies simply do not seem prepared
to accept that cheese has well established nutritional benefits.
The idea that cheese is somehow a junk food is not only laughable
but deeply damaging as we position British cheeses alongside the
traditionally strong brands from the continent.
more>>
APRIL
Dairy Industry facing array of challenges, Curry tells
WI Debate
The recent price increases announced by supermarkets and processors
were very welcome, but prices are only the tip of the iceberg when
it comes to the range of issues over which the dairy industry is
battling for its economic life.
Speaking today (Tuesday) at the central London debate on milk
prices, hosted by the Women's Institute, Mr David Curry, chairman
of Dairy UK, said that environmental concerns flowing from climate
change increasing pressure on food manufacturers from a government
increasingly alarmed by the problems of obesity and a rapidly changing
consumer market place are changing the environment in which the
industry operated.
more>>
Dairy UK conference to address dairy farming and the environment
Dairy UK is to host an important conference to increase the awareness
of environmental issues affecting dairy farmers.
Now, more than ever, focus is being given to environmental issues
in the dairy sector and this conference is targeted at advisers
to dairy farmers and will focus on the key messages that need to
be communicated to dairy farmers in order for them to reduce their
environmental footprint.
Attention will be given to how dairy farmers can limit their environmental
impact and how this can be achieved in the most cost-effective way.
Forthcoming regulations that will impact on the dairy sector will
also be addressed.
more>>
Dairy UK welcomes Tesco announcement
Dairy UK today (Tuesday April 3) welcomed the announcement by
Tesco to introduce measures to support farmers and extend choice
for consumers buying milk.
David Curry, Chairman of Dairy UK, said: “The announcement
today from Tesco is good news for their farmers and we support
initiatives which extend choice for consumers and encourage them
to enjoy the high quality products our industry provides.
“Supermarkets are the dairy industry’s biggest customers.
The future prosperity of the industry lies in finding solutions
with them that deliver benefit throughout the supply chain”
“Greater collaboration and co-operation in the supply chain
is one of four key strategies being pursued by the industry that
includes greater innovation, a relentless focus on efficiency and
further industry consolidation”.
more>>
MARCH
Dairy UK Summit on Future of UK Cheese Industry
Dairy UK is to host a special summit on the future of the nation’s
cheese industry.
Leading figures from the industry will address the summit and
debate the unprecedented range of challenges and opportunities
facing cheese makers and dairy companies.
Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK, said: “Cheese is
underpinning the growth in global dairy demand. It is the perfect
fast food – natural and nutritious. New cheeses and cheese
types are constantly being developed, with packaging innovations
to take advantage of consumer trends. Furthermore, the opening
of new markets, particularly in the Far East, represents extensive
new opportunities for UK cheese producers.
more>>
FEBRUARY
Food Advertising Standards are draconian and confusing
Dairy UK today branded the Ofcom regulation to ban certain food
advertising for children as a draconian measure that will fail
the interests of parents and children.
Dairy UK Technical Director, Dr Ed Komorowski, said: “The
regulations put forward by Ofcom are not balanced. There are enormous
contradictions in what they say, and this will only serve to confuse
families over what they should and should not eat.
more>>
Healthy Start customers are being short-changed
Dairy UK today called upon the Government to increase the value
of its Healthy Start voucher. Healthy Start vouchers are available
to young families on certain benefits and low incomes and are exchangeable
for milk, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables.
The value of the vouchers was set at £2.80 in February 2004,
when final details of the new scheme were announced. However, delays
in the implementation of the scheme meant that it was not launched
on a pilot basis until autumn 2005 and nationally until 2006.
more>>
Dairy UK says CAP debate must put market at the centre of its proposals
Dairy UK today brought together key industry figures to discuss
the future of CAP Reform.
Speaking at today’s conference in London entitled “CAP Reform:
What Lies Ahead” David Curry, Chairman of Dairy UK said: “The forthcoming
reforms must provide a framework to support development and expansion.
"The industry is perfectly able to respond to changes in
policy provided it is given a clear framework with which to work,
both in terms of substance and timetable. Dairy is increasingly
a high-tech industry addressing a complex and fast changing consumer
market.
"Reform must promote the industry’s ability to meet
consumer needs - in other words put the market at the centre of
its proposals."
more>>
Please right click link below and then select "Save Target
As" to download audio highlights of Dairy UK's CAP Reform
Seminar, held on 16th February 2007. Download times will vary depending
on bandwidth size. For example, a download speed of 50 kbps will
take about 13 minutes.
CAP Reform Seminar MP3 (39.0 MB)
This recording of the Dairy UK CAP Seminar was sponsored by Arla
Foods.
Dairy survey shows majority wants abolition of quota regime
and competitive future
Dairy industry leaders are firmly in favour of the abolition of
the CAP quota regime and believe the sector’s future interests
will be best served by meeting the challenges of an increasingly
open market place.
The vision of the future of the industry is revealed today (Tuesday
February 13) in the results from a survey of industry experts conducted
by Dairy UK in advance of a conference it is holding on CAP Reform
in London this week.
more>>
JANUARY
Milk - perfect toast for Burns
Dairy UK today (Tuesday) urged Scots to raise a glass of milk
in their toasts to the Bard on Burns Night this week.
Dairy experts and farmers believe Burns would happily extol the
virtues of milk which has stood the test of time as well or better
than whisky and haggis.
Dairy UK said the dairy industry is facing a wide range of challenges
but milk should be a reason for national celebration.
more>>
Grocery inquiry recognises
dairy industry challenges
Dairy UK said today (Tuesday) the Competition Commission's interim
Grocery Inquiry report recognised the acute challenges facing the
UK dairy industry.
Responding to the Commission’s emerging thinking document,
David Curry, Chairman of Dairy UK, said: "The Commission’s
investigation has provided acknowledgement by the Competition authorities
of what we have known for some time; that the dairy sector is under
real financial pressure. Their analysis shows that the return on
capital employed for both processors and farmers has fallen over
the past ten years.
more>>
EU
optimistic on dairy prospects for 2007
The European Commission gave a delegation from Dairy UK, United
Dairy Farmers and the Ulster Farmers Union an upbeat view of the
global and internal EU market prospects for dairy products in 2007.
Good market fundamentals including strong demand, tight supply,
economic growth and lower stock levels should allow the current
record world prices for milk powders to continue well into 2007.
This reassurance was given to a delegation from the Northern Ireland
dairy industry which visited DG Agriculture in Brussels this week.
The delegation’s meeting was organised by Dairy UK and is
part of an ongoing series of meetings to discuss EU market management
policy following industry concerns over major reductions in export
refunds and the impact of ongoing CAP reform. In response to these
concerns the Commission justified recent cuts in export refunds
on the basis of strong markets and a recovery in returns to above
intervention level.
more>>
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Dairy
UK News Archive: January-June 2007 
