Among the prominent members of this collaborative group are major players such as AHDB, Dairy UK, NFU, and leading companies like Arla Foods UK, Müller UK & Ireland, Lactalis UK & Ireland, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco. This broad representation ensures that the updated Dairy Roadmap benefits from diverse perspectives and expertise, facilitating coordinated action to tackle complex challenges and prepare the sector for future regulatory landscapes. Their collective effort is critical for the future of UK agribusiness.

A central deliverable of this updated roadmap and its new governance structure will be the creation of a comprehensive Sustainable Dairy Pathways Report. This pivotal report is designed to identify the essential funding, innovation, and infrastructure investments required to achieve ambitious targets, including net-zero emissions, by 2026. This forward-looking approach highlights the industry’s proactive stance on environmental responsibility and its commitment to long-term dairy economics.

Bas Padberg, chair of the Dairy Roadmap and managing director of Arla Foods UK, underscored the critical balance between feeding a growing global population with nutrient-rich dairy foods and simultaneously limiting the industry’s environmental footprint. The updated roadmap prioritizes not only environmental impact reduction but also biodiversity, animal welfare, and overall sector resilience, preparing for escalating compliance costs and regulatory pressures.