Arla Foods, in collaboration with the Danish Consulate and FC4S Lagos, hosted a high-level workshop aimed at addressing challenges in Nigeria’s dairy sector while discussing opportunities for improving nutrition.
The event convened stakeholders from across the dairy value chain, including dairy farmers, nutrition experts, policymakers, NAFDAC officials, food processors, and development organizations, to strategize on enhancing the sector’s contribution to national nutrition goals.
Speaking at the workshop, Peder Pedersen, Managing Director of Arla Foods, emphasized the company’s commitment to tackling malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations at the grassroots.
He noted that Arla is integrating locally sourced Nigerian milk into its products while driving initiatives to promote healthy dairy options.
“Our responsibility is to deliver good and healthy products to Nigerians,” Pedersen said. “We are enhancing local production and making Nigerian milk a key part of our offerings. However, we cannot do this alone; for this to succeed, all stakeholders must collaborate with us.”
Pedersen highlighted the importance of raising awareness among consumers to enable them to make informed nutritional choices.
Jette Bjerrum, the Consul General of Denmark in Lagos, underscored Denmark’s long standing expertise in agriculture and its strategic interest in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
She stressed the need for stakeholder collaboration to address key challenges in nutrition and food safety along the value chain.
The workshop marked the beginning of a multi-year journey to improve Nigeria’s dairy value chain, with a focus on cooperation and innovation to combat malnutrition and enhance food security.