Forum launched to drive green transformation in dairy sector

The first annual Dairy Value Chain Forum was officially launched at the InterContinental Dhaka, marking a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s journey toward driving green transformation of the dairy industry. 

The forum is a flagship initiative under the Green Dairy Partnership in Bangladesh, a five-year project funded by the Danida Green Business Partnership (DGBP) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark to increase the resiliency of the dairy farming households, and to develop sustainable and viable private sector led green dairy value chain.

The event was attended by Dr Md Abu Sufiun, Director General, Department of Livestock Services as the chief guest, Anders B. Karlsen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh and Dr. Shakila Faruque, Director General, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute as special guests along with relevant representatives from different government bodies, academia, development and the private sector.

The Green Dairy Partnership aims to create a green, inclusive, and commercially viable dairy value chain in Southwest Bangladesh. With a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and increase income for 10,000 farmer households—80% of whom are women—the project is designed to scale up to 50,000 households. It brings together a consortium of partners including Solidaridad Network Asia, Arla Foods, PRAN Dairy, SEGES Innovation, IDRN-Bangladesh Agricultural University, and the Danish Agriculture & Food Council.

The Dairy Value Chain Forum serves as a collaborative platform, will initiate multi-stakeholders’ collaboration for responsible business conduct and the adoption of climate smart technologies to make dairy business commercially viable and environmentally sustainable. It will address systemic challenges to increase productivity and investment to realize the sector potential for profitable dairy business at scale that shall meet national nutrition demand and contribute to sustainable development goals.

The inaugural event featured presentations on project progress, baseline findings on emissions and farming practices, and the introduction of the “Arla Big Five” sustainability model—focusing on feed efficiency, feed balance, animal robustness, manure handling, and efficient land use. 

Looking ahead, the forum will operate through a structured governance model with a steering committee, and will convene community, district, national, and international forums on a regular basis. Key activities will include capacity building, knowledge exchange, and the development of a white paper to inform policy and investment decisions.

Dr Md Abu Sufiun, Director General, Department of Livestock Services, said “Bringing together all the key stakeholders and launching of the Dairy Value Chain Forum today is a timely initiative. It signifies our collective commitment to build a more efficient, inclusive and sustainable dairy sector of Bangladesh. The Dairy sector is not about producing milk only. This is about nutrition, livelihood, women empowerment, youth employment and economic growth as well. And to ensure all of this, a well-functioning value chain is important. 

Anders B. Karlsen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh, said “The “Green Dairy Partnership Project” is a strong example of the close collaboration between Denmark and Bangladesh. Funded by the Danida Green Business Partnership under the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this initiative brings together public, private, and academic partners to build a greener, more inclusive, and commercially viable dairy sector. Denmark remains a committed partner in Bangladesh’s green transition, and we look forward to continued collaboration to foster innovation and drive inclusive economic growth.” 

Irene Quist Mortensen, Head of International Sustainability, Arla Foods, said “The Green Dairy Partnership is not just about reducing emissions or increasing productivity—it’s about creating lasting, inclusive change. By working hand-in-hand with farmers, businesses, and authorities, we’re building the dairy value industry that can secure dairy nutrition to a growing population in Bangladesh.”

Uzma Chowdhury, Director (Corporate Finance), PRAN-RFL Group, said “The Dairy Value Chain Forum is a vital step towards a sustainable and resilient dairy sector in Bangladesh, and aligns with PRAN-RFL Group's commitment to sustainable development and supporting local communities. We believe that by fostering collaboration and embracing climate-smart technologies, we can not only enhance the economic resilience of dairy farmers, especially women, but also significantly reduce the environmental footprint of Bangladesh's dairy sector. This forum is a crucial step towards a greener, more prosperous future for the industry.”

Selim Reza Hasan, Country Manager-Bangladesh, Solidaridad, said “The Dairy Value Chain Forum is uniting stakeholders to create a new era of Bangladesh dairy business. It will foster innovations to make dairy business commercially viable and environmentally sustainable, contributing to make the dairy business carbon-neutral.”

Dr. Mohammad Mohi Uddin, Network Coordinator, Integrated Dairy Research Network (IDRN) said “Dairy Networking leverages the data driven decisions tools of dairy value chain stakeholders for sustainable and green dairy business.”