Why Global Dairy Conversations Matter at Home

Global conversations about dairy foods and health have relevance beyond borders. The science and insights help inform perspectives and dietary guidance as well as consumer education and demand here at home.

This is why the first Latin American Congress on Dairy Nutrition (Feb. 25-26 in Peru) matters – and why the dairy checkoff was intentional in how we showed up to share science and insights.

For U.S. dairy farmers, this kind of global engagement is tied to the value of what you produce. The decades of research you’ve invested in – and the dairy foods you help deliver every day – depend on how health organizations understand and recommend dairy, not just in the United States, but around the world.

This Congress was a collaborative effort between National Dairy Council (NDC) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, built on years of relationship building in Latin America and strategic thought leader engagement by NDC over the years.

Leading up to the event, we heard misconceptions about dairy’s role in health and wellness, even as Latin America faces a serious “triple burden” of undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and rising overweight and obesity rates.

We saw an opportunity to bring checkoff-led dairy nutrition science forward – and to bring the right people together to hear it. Amplification of the science, together with a dialogue on opportunities to evolve clinical guidelines and public health applications, made this first event of its kind unique.

We convened more than 300 participants from 16 countries, including government leaders, United Nations organizations, clinicians, nutrition scientists and public health experts. Our goal was to create a platform for respected, independent voices – many of them global leaders – to share the evidence.

And they delivered on that promise.

From pregnancy through healthy aging, evidence highlighted dairy’s role in supporting health across the lifespan. We organized the program around this life-stage approach because the region’s nutrition data tells a clear story. Expanding beyond growth and development to cardiometabolic health was timely, as many countries are not on track to meet global targets for diet-related chronic diseases, including heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Dairy is not the only solution, but it can be an important one.

What stood out most was the value of independent scientific voices. Cardiologists, dietitians and researchers delivered a clear message to Latin American leaders: evidence supports including dairy in healthy diets and national guidelines. They emphasized affordability, accessibility and nutrient density, shared the science on whole milk dairy and highlighted its role in cardiometabolic health.

One powerful moment was hearing feedback from leaders who have spent decades shaping dietary guidelines. They told us we had the right people in the room, the right science on the stage and the right conversations happening. This signals meaningful progress in how dairy foods are being discussed, considered and recommended for nutrition and health.

So why does this matter to you as a U.S. dairy farmer?

I’ll describe it as a three-legged stool:

• First, this is about amplifying the value of generations of nutrition research. The science behind dairy and health shouldn’t stop at our borders, especially as global dietary guidelines increasingly impact one another. Evidence links dairy consumption to improved health and lower risk of diet-related chronic diseases – critical for global nutrition guidance.
• Second, this is about engaging in ongoing dialogue with the health community. Farmers often tell us they hear health professionals recommending people reduce or eliminate dairy when they are diagnosed with a chronic disease. By connecting with physicians, dietitians and health organizations, we can share evidence and support guidance that reflects the totality of the science.
• And third, this is about building a global network of credible champions. When medical and nutrition organizations have access to data and open dialogue, they can better understand dairy foods’ value for nutrition and health. They can carry that message forward, informing clinical practice, public health recommendations and nutrition guidance, multiplying the initial checkoff investment.

That is how real, lasting change happens.

We often talk about checkoff actions that create multiple benefits from a single strategy. This Congress is a strong example. The research and education funded by farmers and importers are being leveraged beyond our borders, reaching new audiences and creating opportunities to improve health outcomes while supporting dairy demand.

That’s a powerful return.

What gives me confidence moving forward is the momentum. We are building a long-term science-based education strategy to continue engaging these voices and expand into other regions so dairy foods can remain part of the global nutrition conversation.

So when you hear about the checkoff team leading a meeting in Latin America, know there is more beneath the surface.

It’s your checkoff team helping share the science so dairy foods are recognized and considered in global nutrition guidance.

To learn more about your national dairy checkoff, visit DairyCheckoff.com or to reach us directly, send an email.