India’s dairy sector enters a decisive decade

While going through the agenda of this upcoming dairy event “International Dairy Processing Conference (IDPC) 2026” curated by TPCi, I found the choice of sessions extremely relevant and timely for the Indian dairy sector. This prompted me to curate a series of deep-dive articles around these themes, aimed at drawing practical insights for the benefit…
More Milk, Less Money: India’s Dairy Crisis

With the release of the BAHS 2025 summary report, I felt compelled to deep dive into its findings and reflect on the real progress and challenges facing India’s dairy sector. Over the last six years, India’s dairy sector has continued to consolidate its global leadership, even as deeper structural challenges around farmer incomes, sustainability, and…
India Milk Prices: Cost Shock and Procurement Pressure

Milk prices in India face upward pressure as rising feed costs and procurement hikes reshape farm economics. Insight on dairy procurement, feed costs, and market outlook. Official government and cooperative channels are signalling a renewed focus on farm economics and price stability: DAHD/PIB’s National Milk Day messaging foregrounds inclusive growth for producers and cooperative resilience…
Stop Blaming, Start Claiming: Livestock’s Carbon Credit Future

This week, I had the opportunity to attend an Agri Carbon Masterclass conducted by CII FACE. The deliberations, case studies, and discussions presented during the session were both insightful and thought-provoking, particularly on how agriculture—and specifically dairy—can transition from being a greenhouse gas emitter to a climate solution. As someone deeply engaged with India’s dairy…
India Powers the Gulf’s Dairy Revolution -Gulf Food 2025

As Gulf Food Manufacturing prepares to open its doors from November 4–6 in Dubai, Indian dairy product and equipment manufacturers have a unique opportunity to explore one of the most promising regions for dairy growth — the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East. With its rapidly growing population, premium consumption patterns, and ongoing…
Planetary Health Diet and Dairy: Choosing More Than Two

I remember reading the EAT–Lancet Commission’s Planetary Health Diet report for the first time in 2019. It was being hailed as a global roadmap for feeding 10 billion people sustainably by 2050. At first glance, the concept looked noble—more fruits, more vegetables, more grains, and less of everything that comes from an animal. Then I…
Why India Must Turn to Dairy as a Nutrition Anchor

India’s recent Nature Medicine publication (ICMR‑INDIAB survey) shines a powerful light on what has long been suspected: our diets are dangerously imbalanced. Among 18,090 adults studied, 62% of daily calories came from carbohydrates, while protein made up just 12% and fats 25%. Critically, replacing just 5% of carb calories with protein from dairy, legumes, egg…
Rs 1.02 Lakh Cr Food Push: Feeding India’s Sin Industry

“Why celebrating ₹1.02 lakh crore in food processing investments, announced at the recently concluded World Food India in New Delhi by PM Modi and senior policymakers, may be premature.” The World Food India summit 2025 was hailed as a landmark event for India’s food processing sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi proudly announced investment commitments worth…
Tariff Softening Must Be Matched by Fair U.S. Concessions

The United States has emerged as a dominant player in global dairy and grain exports, and any shift in Indian tariff policies has far-reaching implications for bilateral trade. In 2024, U.S. cheese exports reached approximately 508,808 tonnes, marking a record year for the U.S. dairy sector. Despite this impressive export capacity, India’s cheese imports remain…
Clean Milk at Risk: Farmers Hit by 18% GST on Technology

Progressive dairy farmers across India are questioning the government’s intent behind keeping essential technologies like bulk milk coolers and milking machines under the 18% GST slab. They ask: is the government not confident of their capability to adopt modern practices that ensure hygienic milk production and higher yields? Farmers argue that calling this a “farmer-friendly…