Volantino

DAIRY PRODUCTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT Have you ever wondered how much your food choices weigh on the health of the planet? It is an important question that everyone should ask themselves: in fact, the planet in which we live needs our care and, even through food, we can take a small step which, together with that of millions of people, can build a great path! The production of food and, consequently, the frequency that we buy it at and eat it leaves a mark, a real footprint on the planet. To reduce this footprint, we can follow the rules of the Mediterranean Diet, changing the frequency that we eat some foods at compared to others. The dairy sector represents one of the main sectors worldwide, both in terms of imports and exports. From milk production to dairy processing, high-quality products, rich in nutrients are obtained, but which at the same time leave an important environmental footprint. The sustainability of the milk supply chain can be improved by producers implementing strategies to increase product quality, processing efficiency and animal welfare. For example, by adopting certifications which, as well as communicating the “environmental performance” of the product to consumers, make the producers themselves aware of the environmental impacts in production. This would make it possible to implement actions to achieve sustainability in the production of milk and derivatives, not only from an economic point of view, but above all from an environmental and social point of view. THE WIDE WORLD OF MILK AND ITS DERIVATIVES LET’S EAT WELL 61