The Dairy Value Chain Forum was launched, marking a key step towards advancing green transformation in dairy sector in the country, at a programme at the InterContinental Dhaka on Wednesday.
A five-year project funded by the Danida Green Business Partnership under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the forum is a flagship initiative under the Green Dairy Partnership in Bangladesh, said a press release.
The initiative aims to increase the resilience of dairy farming households and develop a sustainable, commercially viable and private sector-led green dairy value chain.
Md Abu Sufiun, director general of the Department of Livestock Services, attended as chief guest while Anders B Karlsen, deputy head of mission at the embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh, and Shakila Faruque, director general of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, attended as special guests at the event.
Abu Sufiun said, 鈥楤ringing together all the key stakeholders and launching of the Dairy Value Chain Forum today is a timely initiative. It signifies our collective commitment to build a more efficient, inclusive and sustainable dairy sector of Bangladesh. The Dairy sector is not about producing milk only.鈥�
鈥楾his is about nutrition, livelihood, women empowerment, youth employment and economic growth as well. And to ensure all of this, a well-functioning value chain is important,鈥� he added.
Anders B Karlsen said, 鈥楾he Green Dairy Partnership Project is a strong example of the close collaboration between Denmark and Bangladesh. Funded by the Danida Green Business Partnership under the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this initiative brings together public, private, and academic partners to build a greener, more inclusive, and commercially viable dairy sector.鈥�
He added, 鈥楧enmark remains a committed partner in Bangladesh鈥檚 green transition, and we look forward to continued collaboration to foster innovation and drive inclusive economic growth.鈥�
Irene Quist Mortensen, head of international sustainability, Arla Foods, said, 鈥楾he Green Dairy Partnership is not just about reducing emissions or increasing productivity鈥攊t鈥檚 about creating lasting, inclusive change. By working hand-in-hand with farmers, businesses, and authorities, we鈥檙e building the dairy value industry that can secure dairy nutrition to a growing population in Bangladesh.鈥�
Uzma Chowdhury, director for corporate finance, PRAN-RFL Group, said, 鈥楾he Dairy Value Chain Forum is a vital step towards a sustainable and resilient dairy sector in Bangladesh, and aligns with PRAN-RFL Group鈥檚 commitment to sustainable development and supporting local communities.鈥�
Selim Reza Hasan, country manager-Bangladesh, Solidaridad, said, 鈥楾he Dairy Value Chain Forum is uniting stakeholders to create a new era of Bangladesh dairy business. It will foster innovations to make dairy business commercially viable and environmentally sustainable, contributing to make the dairy business carbon-neutral.鈥�
Mohammad Mohi Uddin, network coordinator, Integrated Dairy Research Network, said, 鈥楧airy Networking leverages the data driven decisions tools of dairy value chain stakeholders for sustainable and green dairy business.鈥�
Representatives from government bodies, academia, development partners and the private sector were also present.
The Green Dairy Partnership targets a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while increasing incomes for 10,000 farmer households 鈥� 80 per cent of whom are women 鈥� with plans to scale up to 50,000 households.
The initiative brings together a consortium, including Solidaridad Network Asia, Arla Foods, PRAN Dairy, SEGES Innovation, IDRN-Bangladesh Agricultural University, and the Danish Agriculture and Food Council.
The Dairy Value Chain Forum will serve as a collaborative platform to foster responsible business practices, drive adoption of climate-smart technologies, and promote sustainable and commercially viable dairy practices. The forum aims to address systemic challenges, increase productivity and investment, and contribute to national nutrition goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.
