Feargal Quinn (Independent)

There are challenges ahead of the dairy industry, and two particular challenges must be faced up to, one being sustainability. There is little doubt that sustainability will threaten the cattle, meat and, therefore, the dairy industry because of the trends taking place. If the efforts being made ignore that issue, people do not recognise the challenges that face them in this area. Sweden is promoting climate-friendly food choices:

Guidelines for climate-friendly food choices developed by the Swedish authorities recommend citizens to reduce their meat and rice consumption as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The first of their kind, the guidelines are now being sent out for reactions and inspiration from other EU countries.

There will be European and world legislation changes unless we do something about it.

The other area where there will be change is obesity. There will be legislation, and even if there is not, there will be a strong move. I noticed it in America recently, where they have a far more serious obesity problem than we have in Europe, although we have a major problem here. One of the challenges against obesity is the dairy industry. It can do a lot about it but will have to work very hard to ensure the products it produces are not going to be challenges to the consumers of the future.