Dairy Farmers of Canada Honoured at International Dairy Federation’s Dairy Innovation Awards

Oct 17, 2023

Ottawa, – Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) was honoured at the International Dairy Federation (IDF) Dairy Innovation Awards, which were handed out as part of the World Dairy Summit in Chicago, Illinois.

DFC’s “Net Zero by 2050 – We’re In” campaign won in IDF’s Innovation in Marketing & Communication Initiative Building Dairy category. Additionally, DFC’s digital “cow influencer,” Daisy, and her Mini-Games was recognized as a finalist in the same category.

“The honours received at the IDF Dairy Innovation Awards shine a spotlight on the Canadian dairy industry by recognizing its continuous innovation, both on and off the farm,” says David Wiens, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada. “These campaigns highlight the commitment and advances our sector is making towards net zero and we are proud to share real farmer success stories with our fellow Canadians.”

Last year, DFC committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and farmers are on their way there. The two campaigns recognized at the IDF Dairy Innovation Awards center on how Canada’s dairy farmers are committed to this objective. Through the “We’re In” campaign, DFC highlights new, innovative practices that showed Canadians some of the ways our industry is dedicated to a more sustainable future. “Daisy and her Mini-Games” help the same message reach younger consumers through a fun digital platform that engages while it informs.

Pamela Nalewajek, DFC’s Chief Marketing Officer, was on hand to accept the award in Chicago. “This recognition would not be possible without our hardworking dairy farmers, who strive day in, day out to feed the nation,” says Nalewajek. “Their efforts to blaze a trail for sustainable milk production are what make our marketing campaigns so effective.”

Congratulations are also in order to Lactanet and Semex who won in the Innovation in Climate Action category for developing the world’s first official genetic evaluation to decrease methane emissions in dairy cattle – a project which received funding from DFC.

The IDF Dairy Innovation Awards demonstrate and showcase innovative processes, practices and products within the global dairy sector that improve efficiency and contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Source : Dairy Farmers of canada

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?