U.S. Dairy Climate Impacts Showcased at UN Climate Summit
CONTACTS:
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Jerry Brown, USDEC |
ARLINGTON, VA – Senior U.S. dairy leaders are showcasing U.S. dairy’s commitments and progress toward global climate and food security goals during the UN Climate Conference (COP29), marking USDEC’s fourth straight year prioritizing engagement at the world’s most important climate forum.
The delegation, co-led by USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden and Dairy Management Inc. Chair Marilyn Hershey, is participating in more than a dozen panels and events convened with multiple international institutions, non-governmental organizations, and country representatives. Based on U.S. dairy’s foundational research, economic and trade analyses, on-farm pilots, and partnership networks, the delegation will present U.S. dairy exports as a global food systems solution, showcasing how U.S. dairy can nourish the world while reducing emissions, increasing water efficiency, and improving water quality.
USDEC CEO and delegation co-lead Krysta Harden commented:
“With climate challenges requiring more urgent action than ever, USDEC prioritizes the UN Climate Conference each year to champion the role of nutrient-dense dairy products and trade in delivering sustainable food systems. With a world seeking nourishment that is not just good for people, but also good for the planet, USDEC is part of this COP process to ensure that global action and policies incorporate U.S. dairy producers’ experiences and contributions.”
Delegation co-lead and DMI Chair Marilyn Hershey added:
“U.S. dairy’s engagement at COP29 is built on the commitment of U.S. dairy farmers and the U.S. dairy industry to producing nutritious dairy foods with less environmental impact. I am honored to represent hardworking U.S. dairy farmers at COP who demonstrate progress every day by producing the nourishment people need and having a positive impact on our families, communities and the planet.”
Key topics and themes to be addressed in the delegations’ engagements include:
- Partnerships for sustainable, productive agriculture that drives reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- Promotion and incorporation of producer perspectives in global climate conversations and recommendations.
- The role of dairy trade in achieving global environmental, food system and nutritional goals.
- Accelerating the delivery of sustainable livestock production systems in the Americas and globally.
- Centering soil health and water quality as critical environmental stewardship and food security goals.
- Collaboration across government, academia, business, and civil society.
For further details on the delegation’s speaking engagements and to inquire about media availability, contact: Jerry Brown, USDEC Senior Vice President, Communications, jbrown@usdec.org or 1-703-528-3049.
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The U.S. Dairy Export Council is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Its mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and assist the U.S. industry to increase its global dairy ingredient sales and exports of U.S. dairy products. USDEC accomplishes this through programs in market development that build global demand for U.S. dairy products, resolve market access barriers and advance industry trade policy goals. USDEC is supported by staff across the United States and overseas in Mexico, South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe. The U.S. Dairy Export Council prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs, marital status, military status, and arrest or conviction record. www.usdec.org.