World Milk Day is an international day established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to recognize the importance of milk as a global food. It has been observed on June 1 each year since 2001. The day is intended to provide an opportunity to bring attention to activities that are connected with the dairy sector.
World Milk Day was first designated by the FAO in 2001. June 1 was chosen as the date because many countries were already celebrating a milk day during that time of year.The Day provides an opportunity to focus attention on milk and raise awareness of dairy’s part in healthy diets, responsible food production, and supporting livelihoods and communities. This is supported by FAO data showing that more than one billion people’s livelihoods are supported by the dairy sector and that dairy is consumed by more than six billion people globally. The fact that many countries choose to do this on the same day lends additional importance to individual national celebrations and shows that milk is a global food.
In 2001, World Milk Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to recognize the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector. Each year since, the benefits of milk and dairy products have been actively promoted around the world, including how dairy supports the livelihoods of one billion people.
To help create a positive stream of conversation, the 2021 celebrations will begin with the Enjoy Dairy Rally May 29 – 31, culminating with World Milk Day on Tuesday, June 1. This year, our theme will focus on Sustainability in the dairy sector with messages around the environment, nutrition and socio-economics. In doing so we will re-introduce dairy farming to the world.
WHO CAN ORGANIZE A WORLD MILK DAY CAMPAIGN?
Anybody can host a World Milk Day event. The following are best placed to host campaigns promoting the dairy industry and may have already been involved in a World Milk Day event:
- Community groups, sporting clubs etc.
- Dairy Producers/Farmers/Cooperatives
- Dairy Manufacturers
- Health/Nutrition Organizations
- Dairy Retailers
- Dairy Researchers
- Dairy Industry suppliers
- Agricultural Societies
- Schools & Universities
- Individuals/Families
How we celebrate World Milk Day
From starting our day with tea, coffee, or just plain milk to afternoon’s curd and buttermilk, milk acts as a part of many food items as a primary component. It works as a raw material for making different sweets; thus, we use it in restaurants, daily households, ghee industry, and in pure milk and milk production industries. Like so many industries run with the help of milk as raw material, it provides scope for employment as well.
The day is celebrated by the members of the association on an international and national level through various promotional activities to increase, thereby public awareness about the importance of adding milk to your daily diet.
On a personal level, we can create awareness among the closed ones about the need to include milk. The day plays a significant role in enriching the children and the illiterate ones who come to know the importance of milk as a global food production through various promotions.