The International Farm Comparison Network (IFCN) invited dairy researchers from all over the world to its 26th Dairy Conference in the Netherlands. The theme of this year's conference was ‘Future dairy farming systems: resilience as a path to sustainability’. The event took place in Leeuwarden, a key hub for innovation and research in the dairy industry in the Netherlands, which plays a central role in promoting sustainable and efficient dairy farming practices. The event took place from 19 th to 23 rd May 2025 with more than 60 participants from all over the world.
Global and regional market developments
Jan van Beekhuizen, the IFCN's Dutch dairy expert, presented the Dutch dairy sector. He pointed out that the Netherlands, as a major milk producer and exporter, is mainly confronted with scarce land resources and strict environmental regulations, especially with regard to manure management and nitrogen emissions. These local challenges are also reflected in global trends in milk production and market dynamics. Global growth in milk production has slowed to 2.0% per year, with the informal sector growing faster than the formal sector. Traditional exporters such as Europe and Oceania are experiencing stagnation due to climatic, labour market and political constraints, while regions in Asia and Africa show growth potential. Due to labour shortages and cost efficiency, companies in industrialised countries are increasingly turning to automation.
A high milk price level and lower production costs boosted global farm profitability, with the US seeing especially high returns. In addition, sustainability aspects - economic, environmental and social - are becoming increasingly important in the dairy industry.
Resilience as a path to sustainability
Sustainability in the dairy industry is increasingly recognised not just as a matter of survival, but as a path to thriving in a changing world . In the Netherlands, resilience in dairy farming means adapting farms to a growing number of environmental regulations – ranging from biodiversity requirements and protein ratios to upcoming rules on organic fertilisers and animal welfare. Facing these challenges, farmers need to be adaptable and transformative. Solutions presented in the Netherlands include the use of automated systems for feed production or the use of organic fertiliser for biogas production and the resulting trade in emission certificates (see photos).
Maria Sanchez, the scientific programme manager of the IDF (International Dairy Federation), pointed out that developing countries prioritise prosperity and efficiency, while industrialised countries focus on emissions. Therefore, IDF took up the task to develop and continuously update an LCA model which is freely available and thus enables to measure, compare and benchmark emissions uniformly across the world.
It was also emphasised during the event that in many regions (e.g. USA, Argentina), dairy farm managers are increasingly having to take on the role of personnel managers. Understanding what motivates employees in their work is crucial for building and maintaining a stable, qualified workforce.
Dairy industry 2035: On track or off course?
Between 2020 and 2025, the global dairy industry endured major disruptions - from the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation to climate change and changing consumer demand, particularly for high-fat products. These pressures changed milk production, milk prices and global trade. While mature markets in Europe and Oceania are facing stagnation and regulatory hurdles, demand for milk (products) is increasing in Asia and Africa. Slowing production growth has prompted a pivot toward efficiency and smarter product mixes. Milk prices are expected to remain high due to tight supply as a result of ongoing risks (e.g. animal diseases) and weather extremes. To meet rising global demand by 2035, the industry will need to drive innovation, strategic planning and customised regional approaches.
However, the resilience of the dairy sector ultimately depends on the people involved: the farmers, workers and managers. Strong leadership is essential to foster adaptability and ensure economic production, especially in times of change and uncertainty. After three days of intense discussions, the conference participants agreed that the future of the global dairy sector depends on its ability to adapt through innovation, aligning its strategies with its people and ensuring sustainable growth.
automated system for feed production
© Hambrusch, 2025
Link zu IFCN: https://ifcndairy.org/
