Raise a glass of milk in celebration of World Milk Day and sustainability on June 1, 2017. This is the day established by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to recognize and celebrate the importance of milk as a global food. This year, it is intended to celebrate the important contributions of the dairy sector to sustainability, economic development, livelihoods, and nutrition.
Since the first World Milk Day was held in 2001, many countries around the world, from Singapore to Nepal to Somalia, have participated in celebrations to highlight the goodness of milk. In 2016, World Milk Day was celebrated by more than 40 countries. Activities included holding marathons and family runs, milking demonstrations and farm visits, school-based activities, concerts, conferences and seminars, competitions and a range of events focusing on promoting the value of milk.
This year, World Milk Day aims to celebrate:
- Good food, health and nutrition
- Farmers caring responsibly for their communities, the land and their animals
- How dairy contributes to economic development and livelihoods