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Key stakeholders in the Irish Dairy sector have endorsed the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam, which is a commitment to the sustainable development of the dairy sector. Dairy has an important role as an essential part of a balanced diet, and contributes greatly to the economy of many countries, including Ireland. The dairy sector has a key role to play in protecting the environment, addressing climate change as well as providing a source of income for about 1 billion people worldwide. The dairy sector uses natural resources such as land, water, nutrients and energy and plays a key role in agricultural land management.

Representatives of Teagasc, National Dairy Council, Bord Bia, Ornua and the International Dairy Federation (IDF) endorsed the Declaration, in a signing event, attended by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Micheal Creed TD, held at the Teagasc, Moorepark, Dairy Open Day on the 4^th of July.

The original Declaration was jointly signed by Jeremy Hill (President of the IDF) and Ren Wang (Assistant Director General, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, FAO) at the IDF World Dairy Summit, Rotterdam on October 17^th 2016. The signatories below, as stakeholders of the Irish dairy sector, acknowledge and support this Declaration.

Names of Signatories:

Noel Cawley (Chairman of the IDF, National Committee, Ireland and Chairman of Teagasc)

Prof. Gerry Boyle (Director, Teagasc)

Tara McCarthy (CEO, Bord Bia)

Zoe Kavanagh (CEO, National Dairy Council)

Kevin Lane (CEO, Ornua).

With the signing of the Dairy Declaration, the Dairy sector commits itself to the United Nations Sustainable Development Objectives (SDGs), as formulated in the UN Agenda 2030.

CAPTION:

Pictured at the Teagasc Moorepark dairy open day in Fermoy, County Cork for the signing of a certificate to endorse the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam are Kevin Lane, Ornua  and Zoe Kavanagh, National Dairy Council. Back row: from (L to R)  Dr Mark Fenelon, Head of Food Programme, Teagasc; Dr Phil Kelly, Teagasc; Mick Houlihan, Bord Bia;  Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine; Dr Noel Cawley, Chairman Teagasc; Teddy Cashman, Chairman NDC and  Professor Gerry Boyle, Director Teagasc. Photo O’Gorman Photography.