#SIA 2025 - Debate on the future of African dairy sectors

The FARM Foundation and French Farmers and International Development (AFDI) organized a conference on February 25 in Paris at the International Agricultural Show on challenges of African dairy sectors, with the support of researchers from CIRAD and the National Interprofessional Center for the Dairy Economy (CNIEL), which hosted the event on its stand.

Speakers:

Matthieu BRUN, Scientific Director of the Foundation for Agriculture and Rurality in the World (FARM)

Christian CORNIAUX, Researcher at the Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD)

Alain HERBINET, Secretary General of French Farmers and International Development (Afdi)

Stéphane JOANDEL, Secretary General of the National Federation of Milk Producers (FNPL)

Philippe LEVILLAIN – Dairy farmer in Calvados and elected member of the French agricultural and agri-food cooperative Agrial

Hosted by Maria-Eléna RAMIREZ, Advocacy Officer for French Farmers and International Development (Afdi)

This conference was an opportunity to present recommendations to support local milk production in Africa and strengthen agricultural and trade policies by promoting strategic investments in the dairy sectors by French and European players.

The challenge of sustainable development of dairy sectors in Africa in a few figures

In 2024, milk production in Africa was estimated at several billion dollars while the African dairy market is expected to continue growing to more than 8% by 2030, supported in particular by increasing demographics and urbanization.

In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 80% of milk production comes from family producers, highlighting the importance of small farms as well as pastoralism.

However, the potential for local production is underexploited; only 20% of dairies in West Africa source local milk.

In Morocco, where milk supply is a political priority, milk production fell by 20% between 2020 and 2022 due to droughts and inflation in raw material prices.

The development of Africa's dairy sector represents a major opportunity to improve farmers' livelihoods while meeting growing demand. Efforts to structure supply chains and promote sustainable practices will be essential to maximize its potential.

In a context where demand for African dairy products is expected to double by 2050, the challenges related to the development of local sectors and their structuring appear to be major issues. The speakers recalled that, faced with logistical constraints, competition from imports and growing consumer needs, the question of cooperation between African and European stakeholders is acute to ensure sustainable development of the dairy sector. The speakers emphasized several points:

Christian CORNIAUX (CIRAD) : "The population in West Africa has tripled, and production has only doubled in the last 60 years. The gap between local production and consumption is widening, and is being bridged by importing milk powders enriched with vegetable oils. Consumers are not sufficiently informed about the origin of the milk and dairy products they consume. The "My milk is local" awareness campaign has shown the importance of raising awareness widely."

Stéphane JOANDEL (FNPL) : "The importation of milk powders must be handled with caution; they should not be banned, but better regulated, and considered as an adjustment variable while developing local sectors. (…) Milk production and therefore livestock farming are very important for rural areas, to produce organic matter and fertilize crops. Livestock farming is one of the solutions for sustainable agriculture."

Alain HERBINET (Afdi) : “It is essential to promote equitable and sustainable development of the sectors, in particular to recognize the essential work provided by women, who are often responsible for the production of dairy products. They do not have access to financing and are not recognized. Furthermore, investment in rural areas is essential, particularly in infrastructure, to enable access to local dairy markets.”

Philippe LEVILLAIN (Agrial): “Partnerships with producer organizations in West Africa help strengthen local capacities. This type of initiative relies on technical training and the sharing of expertise, allowing breeders to develop their skills while optimizing the management of their resources.”

Matthieu BRUN (FARM) : “The issue of milk transport, storage and processing infrastructure is key, particularly the cold chain and access to electricity for West African producers. We call on French and European companies to support dairy production in Africa and believe that cooperation between Africa and Europe/France can be based on three pillars: co-investment supported by public-private partnerships, a balanced trade relationship, particularly with North Africa for open strategic autonomy, and, finally, technical cooperation around animal health and taking into account the effects of climate change. We can team up in France, between the public and private sectors, to support our partners.”

We thank the public, the speakers as well as the CNIEL for having hosted this event on their stand since the 2025 International Agricultural Show.