Arla holds symposium on dairy practices in rural Bangladesh

Dairy company, Arla Foods, has done extensive research into the health and nutritional status of Bangladesh and its rural population’s dairy perceptions and practices. It recently projected the results of the research in a symposium.

The symposium was titled “Empowering consumers in rural Bangladesh – bringing nutrition to the next mile”.

The event was attended by officials of Arla Foods and its partners Icddr,b, BopInc, iSocial, dnet along with stakeholders from academia, governmental bodies, NGOs and the food industry, said a press release.

The research team have taken both a literature and field-based approach to knowledge gathering in collaboration with recognised research institute Icddr,b, and Aarhus University, Denmark in conducting the extensive research, the press release added.

Presenting her research, Mia Meldgaard Knudsen of Aarhus University, Denmark, outlined the importance Bangladeshis place on milk as part of a healthy diet and that they consider fresh milk to be healthiest which is why it is prioritised for children in the household.

These insights, along with the thorough understanding of the nutritional needs of the nation and potential deficiencies among specific population groups and segments in Bangladesh gained by Arla will not only be used by the company to direct future product developments under its Dano

brand, but are expected to be instrumental in supporting the Second Bangladesh National Plan of Action for Nutrition (NPAN2) in the effective implementation of its global goals as well as to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In his opening remark, Peter Hallberg, managing director of Arla Foods Bangladesh, said: “Arla Foods is committed to contributing positively to the societies in which we operate and behaving responsibly is an inherent part of Arla’s culture”.