DRIVING GREEN GROWTH IN BANGLADESH'S DAIRY SECTOR: THE LAUNCH OF THE DAIRY VALUE CHAIN FORUM

In a landmark step toward transforming Bangladesh's dairy industry, the first annual Bangladesh Dairy Value Chain Forum was launched on July 9, 2025, at the InterContinental Dhaka. This milestone event marks the formal activation of the Green Dairy Partnership-a pioneering five-year initiative aimed at building a sustainable, inclusive, and commercially viable dairy value chain in Bangladesh.

 

The Green Dairy Partnership is funded by the Danida Green Business Partnership (DGBP) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and is implemented by a powerful consortium of public, private, and academic stakeholders. These include Solidaridad Network Asia (SNA), Arla Foods, PRAN Dairy, SEGES Innovation, the Integrated Dairy Research Network (IDRN) at Bangladesh Agricultural University, and the Danish Agriculture & Food Council.

 

 

 

 

The Inception Story

 

In 2021, Arla Foods Bangladesh and Pran Dairy signed a Letter of Intent collaborating to increase milk productivity and quality in Bangladesh. The collaboration involved farm assessments, training sessions, and data analysis with IDRN. Following the successful completion of training sessions for field level trainers conducted by Arla Foods and IDRN, an assessment was conducted in 2023 collaborating with SNA in the south-westerns region of Bangladesh which later became the foundation of a successful funding application to DGBP along with onboarding SEGES and DAFC to the Green Dairy Partnership.

 

A Vision for Sustainable Dairy

 

At the heart of the Green Dairy Partnership lies a bold vision: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy production by 30% and increase the income of 10,000 dairy farming households-80% of whom are women. With a scaling potential to reach 50,000 households, the project is not only a climate initiative but also a socioeconomic catalyst for rural Bangladesh.

 

The Bangladesh Dairy Value Chain Forum (BDVCF) serves as the flagship platform of this initiative. It is designed to foster evidence-based dialogue, promote climate-smart technologies, and advocate for policy and business reforms that support a greener dairy sector. The forum's operational framework emphasizes private sector leadership, responsible business conduct, and gender equity.

 

A Multi-Stakeholder Launch

 

The launch event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, diplomats, industry leaders, researchers, and development partners. Chief Guest Dr. Md. Abu Sufiun, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, emphasized the government's commitment to supporting sustainable livestock development. Special guests included Anders B. Karlsen, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Denmark, and Dr. Shakila Faruque, Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute.

 

In his remarks, Mr. Karlsen highlighted Denmark's global leadership in sustainable agriculture and its alignment with Bangladesh's green growth ambitions. He noted that the Green Dairy Partnership exemplifies Denmark's commitment to inclusive development, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems.

 

 

 

 

The "Big Five" Sustainability Model

 

A key innovation introduced through the partnership is the "Arla Big Five" sustainability model. This framework focuses on five critical areas: feed efficiency, feed balance, animal robustness, manure handling, and efficient land use. These pillars are designed to reduce the environmental footprint of dairy farming while enhancing productivity and profitability.

 

The model is being implemented through three regional dairy hubs and 34 Village Milk Collection Centers (VMCCs), which streamline milk collection, ensure quality control, and provide training and support to farmers. These hubs serve as the backbone of the green dairy value chain, enabling traceability, transparency, and scalability.

 

Empowering Women and Building Resilience

 

One of the most compelling aspects of the Green Dairy Partnership is its focus on empowering women. With 80% of the targeted 10,000 households led or co-managed by women, the project is creating new economic opportunities and fostering inclusive growth. By integrating women into the dairy value chain, the initiative is not only addressing gender disparities but also enhancing the resilience of rural communities.

 

 

 

 

A Platform for Policy and Innovation

 

The Bangladesh Dairy Value Chain Forum is envisioned as more than just a convening space-it is a policy and innovation platform. It aims to gather, analyze, and disseminate data on dairy sector performance, emissions, and best practices. The forum will also advocate for a level playing field where responsible business conduct, environmental stewardship, and gender equity are central to sectoral transformation.

 

Statements from key stakeholders underscored this ambition. Uzma Chowdhury, Director of Corporate Finance at PRAN-RFL Group, described the forum as "a vital step toward a sustainable and resilient dairy sector in Bangladesh." Selim Reza Hasan, Country Manager of Solidaridad Bangladesh, emphasized the forum's role in "uniting stakeholders to create a new era of Bangladesh dairy business." Adding to this, Irene Quist Mortensen, Head of International Sustainability at Arla Foods, framed the initiative as both a climate imperative and a business opportunity.

 

Looking Ahead

 

The launch of the Dairy Value Chain Forum is just the beginning. Over the next four years, the Green Dairy Partnership will continue to scale its interventions, deepen its impact, and build a robust ecosystem for green dairy development. With strong backing from the Danish government, committed local partners, and a clear roadmap, the initiative is poised to become a model for sustainable agri-business transformation in South Asia.

 

As Bangladesh navigates the twin challenges of climate change and food security, initiatives like the Green Dairy Partnership offer a blueprint for how inclusive, climate-smart, and commercially viable solutions can drive national progress.