African dairy farmers call on the EU to stem overproduction

"Milk in Africa is not just important, it is extremely important."

As she says this, Korotoumou Gariko, dairy farmer and manager of a micro-dairy in Burkina Faso, looks on earnestly toward the stage. On 10 April, colleagues from Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Niger assembled here with their European colleagues, as well as a broad alliance of civil society organisations. In a common declaration, all those present called on the EU to avoid damaging surpluses and dumping in the future.

Increasing imports of re-fattened skimmed milk powder are especially problematic for local production in Africa. "In Niger, we are anything but happy about the poor quality of imported milk products. They are re-fattened with palm oil, and the public does not know about this," says Wouro Habsatou Aboubacar, dairy farmer and founder of a regional milk network, as she explains the situation in her country. As she says this, she has a miniature cow in Nigerien colours in her hand. Palm oil is twelve times cheaper than milk fat. It is practically impossible for a local producer to compete with these cheap imports.
 For example, a litre of pasteurised local milk in Burkina Faso costs the equivalent of about 91 cents, while a litre from a milk powder mix costs only 34 cents.

The hosts of this action are not here to make generalisations about imports. But there must be a balance and cheap imports in particular cannot have the upper hand. However, the initial reactions from European Commission representatives to the concerns expressed by African producers seem to suggest that the current negative effects of cheap imports are significantly underestimated here in Brussels.

For Koen Van Troos from Veterinarians Without Borders, one of the co-organisers of the action in Brussels, a rethinking within the EU is, nonetheless, very important: "Our work on the ground, which includes veterinary services as well as measures to improve access to feed and to develop the milk value chain, cannot achieve much unless EU policy itself changes," says Van Troos.

Mass overproduction, characteristic in the EU and also the cause of numerous crises locally, is what needs to end. In this regard, representatives of the European Milk Board, a dairy farmers' association, are calling for the implementation of a crisis instrument in the EU agricultural policy.

The local dairy sector in West Africa has significant potential to create jobs and generate incomes, and is something that needs to be further developed, rather than exposed to additional threats. Against this backdrop, dairy farmer Korotoumou Gariko from Burkina Faso points to another major setback that the end of local milk production in West Africa would spell for local families: "It is mainly women working in the dairy sector. With the money they earn, they feed their families and are able to send their children to school. Destroying milk production in Burkina Faso means destroying families."

Silvia Däberitz, EMB. Article published in Bauernstimme 05/2019

Videos on our Africa events

EMB press release: "Don't export the EU's problems to Africa!"

The organic milk production sector is the most developed in Europe and North America. The US market for organic milk products is the largest in the world with an annual production of about 1.5 billion litres (16.4% of world production). Many American producers responded to a call from cooperatives to make up for the shortfall in this fast-growing market sector.

This led to an increase in investments and herd size: According to the USDA, the organic dairy cow herd grew by 34% between 2012 and 2016, reaching a total size of 267,523 heads. This market, which was very attractive to dairy farmers, quickly became saturated and then crashed due to excessive supply, leading to an almost 30% drop in prices within the span of two years. Considering the rapid growth in the market for organic dairy products in Europe, shouldn't we be concerned about a similar situation arising here as well?

The crumbling American market

After years of quick growth, the organic milk market in the United States slowed down in 2017 for the first time since 2013, signalling a decrease in consumption of these products by American consumers. This reduction corresponds to American citizens changing their patterns of consumption, turning now to plant-based drinks, which they consider the healthier option – sales of such products have increased by 3% in 2017. The actions of certain stakeholders along the production chain have also contributed to consumers boycotting these products. For example, the company Aurora Organic Valley, which manages organic farms with thousands of cows, was pulled up by the USDA for violating the product specifications for organic milk. As a result, sales growth went from 40% in 2013 to 7% in 2017, with a farm-gate milk price that fell by almost a third in 2017. In an attempt to reduce the pressure on this sector in decline, many organic milk farmers have had production limits imposed on them by their dairies.

Could France end up in a similar situation?

Within the framework of the dairy sector plan, post the conclusions and policies of the law EGA (General States on Food - États Généraux de l’Alimentation), actions aiming at a 'higher range of products' were enacted, with the target to double organic milk production (+600 million litres) in 5 years.

At 630.4 million litres in 2017, French organic milk deliveries were the second-highest in Europe, after Germany and before Denmark, with an increase of 11.3% as compared to 2016. This figure is the result of the entry of a large number of new producers, who began production conversion in 2015. According to a survey by Cniel, organic milk production of a billion litres will become a reality by the end of 2019.

Those consuming organic milk (or organic milk products) are a target group for producers of plant-based drinks as well. That is why a number of dairy companies have anticipated this market maturation for organic milk production by diversifying toward such alternative products. Granarolo, Hochland, Bauer, Agrial... all of these companies known for milk processing have recently invested in the plant-based product segment. The development of these products presents a threat for producers, even more so as the uptake of such modes of consumption might be underestimated! After all, if demand were to grow in favour of plant-based products, companies would align themselves and orient their marketing toward these products, casting aside milk and milk producers, both of which would be economically less interesting. This phenomenon could be further aggravated by deregulation, which would push certain countries to increase production and then end up with weaker outlets. French and European milk producers should, therefore, remain vigilant and not necessarily respond to their dairies' demand to increase production, if they want to avoid the effects that similar action had on the US market.

Joseph Martin, Organisation des producteurs de lait (OPL), France

The BDM presents its sector strategy 2030

On the occasion of the spring Agriculture Ministers Conference in Landau, the German dairy farmers' association BDM erected a wooden house in front of the conference venue, bearing the message "Let's build the future of the dairy market – dairy farmers and policy-makers hand in hand". 

The three steps of the sector strategy were represented visually in the form of different floors. The crisis management programme and Article 148 of the Common Market Organisation, which must be implemented immediately, laid the foundation. The creation of a dairy farming interbranch organisation was the first floor. The house was topped off by the second floor and roof, which symbolised a two-tier dairy market system.

Through its targeted protest and imposing house (covering an area of 5x5m and 6.45m high), the BDM were able to show policy-makers that the issues plaguing the dairy market are yet to be solved.

Demonstration in Munich in favour of biodiversity

To coincide with the Round Table on the Biodiversity Referendum in late April, the BDM organised a demonstration in front of the Bavarian State Chancellery. Without rethinking agricultural policy, biodiversity will remain a pipe dream.

The current focus on international competitiveness and cheap food has led to high external costs that are not borne by those who profit from the system. The result: Not just insects but even a staggering number of dairy farms have disappeared in the face of a permanent shortfall in cost coverage – a reduction of 53% between 2000 and 2017 alone.

Event with dairy farmers from Mali

Dairy-farmer organisations from six West-African countries, together with the European Milk Board (EMB) and a number of development aid organisations, called on EU policy-makers in Brussels to reorient trade practices with Africa. The export of EU surpluses should not endanger the livelihood of dairy farmers in Africa.

After the events in Brussels, Adama Dembele, spokesperson for the dairy farmer association FEMALAIT in Mali, visited numerous farms in Germany. There was quick consensus that in addition to food security and food sovereignty, local dairy sectors are also the answer to securing and creating jobs in rural areas and thus counteracting poverty and a rural exodus. 

Bundesverband Deutscher Milchviehhalter e.V. (BDM)

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Vanessa Langer, EMB

We are a young umbrella organisation of European milk producer organisations which advocates for a fair milk price and sustainable milk production throughout Europe, with its positive effects on jobs, rural areas and the environment.

We work with our member organisations from all over Europe and carry out intensive political and public relations work in English, German and French.

We are currently looking for an agricultural policy officer to join our team in Brussels and look forward to receiving your application.

Your tasks will include:

• Analysis of EU milk market policy
• Drafting of position papers and opinions
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• Editing the EMB newsletter and help maintaining the website / social media channels
• Press relations / member information
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• Organisation of conferences and events
  
  

Your skills and experience:

• Experience in policy analysis and agricultural policy
• Interest in agricultural matters
• Structured working methods and a high sense of responsibility
• Strong communication skills, e.g. to maintain contact with various European countries
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently
• Knowledge of Typo3, Mailchimp and image editing as well as editorial knowledge would be a plus
• Very good knowledge of English and German as well as at least good knowledge of French in spoken and written form.
  
  

Our office is located in Brussels, Belgium.

Please send your application by e-mail to by 27 May 2019.

European Milk Board asbl (EMB), Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels, Belgium