DSF out and about….in Latin America

DSF Director Brian Lindsay was honoured to join the DSF Latam project workshop in Medellin, Colombia recently, where the DSF participant countries of Costa Rica, Uruguay and The Dominican Republic shared the outcomes of their materiality analysis and their future priority work areas. Though each one, was slightly different, they were also very much aligned. This has set up nicely the opportunity for a Latam knowledge sharing platform to solve common challenges.

A big congratulations to all the countries dairy sectors/governments, Federación Panamericana de Lechería (Fepale), who are driving the project, Consorcio Lechero of Chile (and also a DSF Member) who are providing program delivery support and of course our funding partners CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Global Dairy Platform. It is the outcomes of projects like this that drive lasting and impactful change supporting the resilience of our farmers and their value chains!

We are also pleased to report that a continuation finance package has been agreed between the funding partners, providing the opportunity for new countries to engage and benefit from the DSF implementation model.

On the same trip, Brian also spoke at the 18th Pan-American Dairy Congress and the 12th International Dairy Industry Congress, jointly organized by FEPALE and ASOLECHE in Medellín, Colombia. Joining Ariel Londinsky, Secretary General of FEPALE (and DSF Governor) on the platform, they collectively shared dairy sustainability insights from their different perspectives, specifically related to the project and the progress being made by the three countries already engaged. Importantly Fepale were able to seek expressions of interests for the next tranche of countries to engage in the project – Exciting times!

On a sad note, the DSF Secretariat would like to wish Roxana Bruno all the very best and thank her for her massive contribution to making the DSF so welcome in the Latam region. After 16 years with Fepale, Roxana has decided to pursue other interests. It is fair to say that we would not be where we are today with our immensely strong relationship with Fepale without the contribution Roxana has made facilitating such over the years. A huge thanks and best wishes Roxana!