European milk powder trail in West Africa

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 ...