Dairy Processing - July/August 2022 - 66

ASSOCIATION INSIGHTS
Five-point focus
US has the potential to become the leading global supplier of dairy products.
by Michael Dykes | International Dairy Foods Association
T
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA)
is focused on leveraging our broad industry
representation to advocate and shape policy that will
allow the United States to become the world's dominant
supplier of nutritious, affordable and sustainable dairy
products. To get there, IDFA has a five-point focus.
NUTRITION, HEALTH & WELLNESS
The most important issue facing our dairy industry is ensuring
dairy is viewed as a major contributor to nutrition, health and
wellness. This will require more support for new research by
credible institutions and individuals on dairy's role in human
health and nutrition to better inform the federal Dietary
Guidelines for Americans (DGA).
We must also strengthen dairy's role in food security. The
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the
nation's most important anti-hunger program. The SNAP Healthy
Fluid Milk Incentives Projects doubles the dollars of SNAP
participants when they purchase fluid milk. IDFA encourages
Congress and USDA to expand this effort beyond milk to allow
SNAP participants to purchase yogurts and cheeses.
SUPPLY CHAIN & GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS
If we do not build globally competitive market access through
reduced tariffs, competitive prices, and consistent shipping,
our US industry will not grow.
An alliance between the Port of Los Angeles, shipping
company CMA CGM and IDFA members has led to improved
movement of US dairy exports that can be replicated with
ports and shipping companies across the country. Now
that the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) is law, IDFA is
engaging the Administration to ensure policy outcomes bring
the long-term solutions promised by the legislation. IDFA
also supports establishing the Freight Logistics Optimization
Works (FLOW), to speed up delivery times and reduce costs.
66 JUL-AUG 2022 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
WORKFORCE & IMMIGRATION
Workforce is a major issue for our members. We need
an immigration system that works for all sectors of our
economy, that responds to worsening workforce challenges
and treats people fairly and equitably. We will work with
bipartisan members of Congress to lead on comprehensive
immigration reform.
SUSTAINABILITY
On sustainability, IDFA will continue to work with Congress and
the administration to ensure continued support for voluntary,
incentive-based practices and marketing opportunities. We
encourage regulators like the US Securities and Exchange
Commission, or SEC, to ensure new GHG reporting rules do not
become a barrier to entry for small and mid-sized processors and
do not stifle innovation within our industry.
TECHNOLOGY
IDFA is convening experts and dairy processors to share
knowledge on the benefits and vulnerabilities of digital
transformation, including how to innovate our businesses
and harden our industry's defenses against cybercrimes.
For decades, the US Food and Drug Administration has
promised to modernize food standards while allowing food
makers more flexibility for innovation in response to shifting
consumer demands and trends.
FDA must become more efficient and nimbler for
consumers and more responsive to the feedback of industry to
enhance US competitiveness.
Michael Dykes is the president and chief executive officer of
the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). Based
in Washington, DC, IDFA represents the nation's dairy
manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports
more than 3 million jobs.
http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
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