Nigeria, represented by Arla Foods, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Denmark and Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S) has resolved to explore innovative solutions to enhance dairy nutrition, access, and sustainable production in the country.
To this end, a workshop where stakeholders met in Lagos recently, provided a platform for industry experts to engage in critical dialogue to uncover strategies, practices, and policies that drive growth in the dairy industry. The event, titled ‘Nutrition in the Dairy Sector,’ addressed current challenges and opportunities in improving nutrition through Nigeria’s dairy sector.
Factors such as poor infrastructure, inadequate cold storage facilities, and a lack of efficient supply chains continue to limit Nigeria’s local production. Arla Foods continuously works to engage and explore innovative solutions to enhance dairy nutrition, access, and sustainable production.
Key regulators and stakeholders include National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Sahel Consulting, Helen Keller, Milk Value chain Foundation and amongst others offering attendees an opportunity to engage in critical dialogue on this topic.
Participants took part in a series of breakout sessions focused on key areas of the dairy sector, these sessions allowed stakeholders to deliberate, collaborate and share insights on how to drive growth and overcome barriers within the sector.
Speaking at the event, the director, Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, NAFDAC, Dr. Eva Edwards stated that collaboration between the industry and regulators was needed to drive the dairy sector forward, suggesting platforms and opportunities for collaboration as a means of creating more consumer education around the importance of dairy in nutrition.
Managing director, Arla Foods Nigeria, Peder Pedersen, said: “As we look to the future, I am inspired by the collective vision and commitment I’ve seen from the dairy industry to address critical issues around nutrition and access. “At Arla, we firmly believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality, nutritious dairy products, and that this requires us all to work together—not just as industry members or competitors, but as partners with a shared responsibility for the health and well-being of the Nigerian people”
The Danish Consul General, Jette Bjerrum, said: “Our gathering today underscores the importance of collaboration and knowledge, sharing across the borders and bringing together expertise, insights and resources that can drive the positive change everybody is looking for.
“The challenges we face in nutrition and sustainable agriculture require a shared commitment, especially when it comes to developing innovative solutions that can improve food security, health and livelihoods in general. This is an area where Denmark and Nigeria can achieve great things together.”
Arla Foods plans to collaborate with more dairy industry leaders on similar workshops in future to further drive the nutrition agenda in Nigeria together.
