Introduction

The Australian dairy industry is vital to the Australian economy. It plays a major role in the agriculture sector as well as rural and regional communities. Australian dairy products rank fourth in global trade and we have one of the highest per capita consumption in the developed world.

The Dairy Australia Strategic Plan is a new approach to describe our priorities and the outcomes we will deliver in the next five years – July 2020 to June 2025. The plan aligns with industry needs and embodies our vision. Dairy Australia strives to be:

Leaders in shaping a profitable and sustainable dairy industry.

Dairy Australia works closely with our levy payers and other important stakeholders to understand their needs and direct our investment priorities. We provide practical tools, services and advice to assist farming operations and the dairy supply chain. Our investments in innovation are focused on creating new and transformational opportunities for the dairy industry.

People are at the heart of everything we do. This includes attracting people to the industry, building skills, providing insights, informing policy formation and trade relations, promoting the benefits of dairy to consumers, and meeting community expectations on areas such as environmental stewardship and animal welfare.

The content and timing of this strategic document closely aligns with the new Australian Dairy Plan, which has been created from widespread industry consultation over the past 18 months. More than ever, we work alongside peak industry organisations, including Australian Dairy Farmers, Australian Dairy Products Federation and Gardiner Foundation, and together we are committed to prioritising the high-value impacts set out in the plan.

We believe this strategic document will drive the future success of the industry. It will also motivate our talented people to coalesce around areas of industry importance, lead to positive change in the provision of research and development, and provide value-added services to dairy farmers.

Sincerely,

James Mann Chair

David Nation Managing Director