World Milk Day, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is an international celebration that showcases the goodness of dairy to consumers around the globe. This year, the global theme is “Sustainable Dairy,” emphasizing the industry’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint while providing nutritious food and sustainable livelihoods.
Commenting on the initiative, Chioma Otisi Igwe, Marketing Manager, Three Crowns Milk said: “We recognize the significance of sustainable dairy practices and their benefits for consumers and the environment, and World Milk Day provides us with a platform to showcase the positive impact of sustainable dairy and raise awareness among consumers about the importance of making conscious choices.”
According to Igwe, “It also aligns with our vision of building a sustainable dairy value chain and contributing to the well-being of communities. Through our various initiatives and collaborations, we have made significant strides in empowering dairy farmers, improving livelihoods, and promoting eco-efficient practices, and we are proud to be part of a global movement that emphasizes the role of dairy in providing nutritious food while minimizing our environmental footprint.”
On World Milk Day (June 1), FrieslandCampina WAMCO will emphasize its role in serving healthy breakfast meals with Three Crowns Milk and conducting health checks for 5,000 consumers in Osogbo and Kano. This initiative aims to highlight the brand’s commitment to promoting nutrition and well-being in the communities it serves.
FrieslandCampina WAMCO firmly believes that building a sustainable dairy value chain requires strong cooperation among key stakeholders, including the public sector, private sector, knowledge centers, and non-governmental organizations.
According to Chris Wulff- Caesar, Marketing Director, Sub Saharan Africa Cluster, “Over the years, the company has fostered partnerships with notable organizations such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Dutch Government (FDOV), among others, to develop a sustainable and integrated dairy sector model. With a remarkable investment of over 21 billion in the Nigerian dairy sector, FrieslandCampina WAMCO and its partners have achieved significant milestones. These include improving the livelihood of over 12,000 smallholder dairy farmers and pastoralists by integrating them into WAMCO’s fresh milk supply chain, ensuring year-round market access. Furthermore, the volume of fresh milk collected daily from dairy communities has increased to an average of 40,000 liters during peak periods, empowering dairy farmers and improving their income and livelihoods”.
Furthermore, FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s sustainability efforts extend beyond economic impact. The company has also supported farmers to achieve premium fresh milk quality levels, reduced its environmental footprint through eco-efficient practices such as solar-powered boreholes, and contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing access to clean water for both people and livestock.
As the first manufacturing company to source raw milk locally for manufacturing, FrieslandCampina WAMCO takes pride in its contribution to the Nigerian dairy sector. Through its Dairy Development initiative, the company has helped thousands of Nigerian farmers increase milk production, improve milk quality, and gain access to the market. With the volumes expected to grow significantly in the coming years, FrieslandCampina WAMCO remains committed to strengthening its investment in the Nigerian dairy sector.
The Dairy Development model of FrieslandCampina WAMCO has proven effective in developing a local and sustainable dairy chain. By collaborating with pastoralists, smallholder dairy farmers, and commercial farms, and with support from partners such as IFDC-2SCALE, Bles Dairies, and Wageningen University, the company focuses on enhancing milk production, quality, hygiene, feeding, breeding, and farm management.
