European milk powder trail in West Africa

Published 2024년 5월 24일

Tridge summary

Senegal's reliance on imported milk powder, which is cheaper than locally produced milk, is negatively impacting local farmers, with 90% of the country's milk consumption being imported. In 2022, Senegal produced 680 million liters of milk, which is 47% of local demand. This unfair competition from imported milk powder, mainly from Belgium, is leading to overproduction and low prices in Belgium, causing financial strain for European dairy farmers. The article criticizes the EU's 'Farm to Fork' strategy for ignoring the need to support local agriculture and the family farming model. It also highlights the health and environmental concerns related to the consumption of re-fatted milk in Africa and the environmental impact of transporting foodstuffs from Europe to Africa.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

And it is not only the smile of the Belgian or European breeder that is missing, the smile of African farmers is also at half mast. Today in Senegal, 90% of the milk consumed is imported powdered and re-fatted milk, explains a Senegalese wholesale food trader, interviewed by RTBF journalists. This re-fattened milk is cheaper than milk produced locally by Senegalese breeders. Famara Sarr, Director of the Ministry of Livestock of Senegal, explains that in 2022, Senegalese milk production amounted to 680 million liters, or 47% of local consumer demand. The low-cost European milk powder which is flooding the Senegalese market creates unfair competition for local producers, whose milk is up to 30% more expensive than imported milk. Return to Belgium, where dairies are fattening in the same way as powder and where dairy producers do not see the added value of powder sold outside Europe. Pierre-Antoine De Boel is a dairy producer in Willerzie in the province of Namur. Today, to be able ...

Source: fwa