The 9th IDF Symposium on Sheep, Goat, Camel & other Non-Bovine Milk organised by Indian National Committee of International Dairy Federation (INC-IDF) commenced at NDDB, Anand on 9th February, 2026 and will continue till 11th February 2026. The inaugural session was graced by Gilles Froment, President, IDF; Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB, Board Member, IDF and Secretary, INC-IDF; Dr Naveena B Maheswarappa, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India; Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India; Laurence Rycken, Director General, IDF along with IDF Board Members, academics, industry leaders, milk producers, processors, policymakers, professionals from across the dairy sector.

The event brought together over 90 international and national delegates. The 7 technical sessions will cover topics such as Emerging Markets and Consumer Trends; Livelihoods and Smallholder Empowerment: The Socio-Economic Impact of Non-Bovine; Farm Management Strategies: Resource Optimization and Sustainability; Processing Technologies, Quality Aspects and Innovations in Non-Bovine Milk; Non-Bovine Dairy Product Development: Nutritional Specificities and Bio- Functionalities; Biosecurity and Disease Management in Non-Bovine; Global Standards and Policies for Non-Bovine Milk. Posters related to non-bovine milk are being showcased and exhibitors presented their innovations, technology and services.

Giles Froment emphasized the role of goat, sheep, and camel milk as sustainable options for regions with harsh climates. He outlined six priorities – environment, animal welfare, nutrition, food safety, health, and inclusivity – while noting uneven growth in global milk output despite surpassing one billion tonnes. Highlighting India’s 25 per cent share of production, he urged expanding non-bovine dairy through food safety, innovation, and robust nutrition data. Stressing IDF’s role in global standards, he called for stronger collaboration and climate-resilient practices, especially ahead of FAO’s 2026 International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists.

In his address, Dr. Meenesh Shah emphasized the growing importance of non-bovine milk – climate-resilient, nutrition- supporting and often managed by women. He recalled India’s dairy journey from scarcity to self-sufficiency through Operation Flood. Stressing continued growth via cooperatives and scientific programmes like the National Dairy Plan, he outlined NDDB initiatives including the Animal Disease Control Programme with free vaccination against FMD and brucellosis, disease control, advanced breeding techs like sex-sorted semen and genomic tools for productivity gains. He cited progress in goat artificial insemination and camel milk marketing through Amul’s Sarhad Dairy, urging scale-up of such models to ensure farmers capture consumer value. He called for collaboration beyond research, focusing on sustainability, processing, disease management and nutrition to unlock non-bovine milk’s potential.

Dr. Naveena B. Maheswarappa underscored the symposium’s relevance amid the UN’s 2026 International Year of Grazing Lands & Pastoralists, noting India’s sustainable food patterns and rising demand for diverse animal protein. He urged promotion of non-bovine milk as nutrient-rich, climate-friendly, and produced through organic, free-range systems, highlighting sheep, goat, and camel value chains as low carbon systems. Stressing advanced processing technologies and robust certification, he called for science-led, cluster-based approaches with traceability and expert collaboration to build nature-positive, high-value products and resilient value chains.

Takayuki Hagiwara stressed the importance of camel, goat, and sheep milk in India’s dairy future. He mentioned stronger value chains, marketing and promotion of products like goat cheese. Drawing on experiences in Rajasthan and Kutch, including Sarhad Dairy, he highlighted growing recognition of camel milk’s nutritional value and called for more scientific research with ICMR. Confident in NDDB’s leadership, he said India could see major growth in goat and camel milk development. He reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to work with NDDB and the Government of India to improve pastoralist livelihoods and unlock non-bovine milk’s potential.

Laurence Rycken set the tone for the symposium by thanking the Indian National Committee and NDDB, recognizing India’s leadership in science-driven, inclusive dairy development. She noted how climate change, urbanization, and shifting consumer expectations are reshaping the sector, positioning non-bovine milk as vital for regions like India, the Middle East, and Africa while supporting livelihoods. She highlighted India’s dairy diversity and the central role of women. She called for data-driven, practical strategies to overcome value-chain barriers, connect regions and experts and strengthen sustainability. She reaffirmed the shared global commitment to nourishing people and supporting livelihoods.