Dairy UK has kicked off a campaign to boost the profile of the dairy industry in Westminster and promote dairy’s benefits to Health, the economy and the environment.

Dairy Makes a Difference was launched with the support of MPs in the House of Commons on 29 April. The push revolves around a new interactive website, dairymakesadifference.org, which displays public declarations of support for dairy from politicians and key industry figures. Members of the public can also leave their thoughts on why they believe dairy makes a difference.

Dairy UK also plans to run an “outreach programme” for MPs and other stakeholders, involving email campaigns and events under the Dairy Makes a Difference theme.

Dairy UK chairman Billy Keane said the campaign’s goal was to foster discussion and build long-term awareness of the dairy industry. Its key message was that the industry employed more than 25,000 people - with thousands more involved in dairy farming - and produced an environmentally responsible and nutritious range of products. “It is crucial to see key decision-makers proactively support the industry,” he added.

Earlier this year, Dairy UK CEO Judith Bryans urged MPs to support the dairy industry in a consistent manner, without mixed signals from government departments.

The response so far had been “strong and constructive,” Bryans said. Dairy Makes a Difference would build on this by offering “a unique opportunity for politicians to tell us in their own words why and how dairy matters”.

Separately, Dairy UK is set to revamp its main website, dairyuk.org, next week, adding a new consumer-facing section to explain the work of Dairy UK. The revamped website will also include a prominent link to Dairy Makes a Difference.

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