It serves as the first source of nutrition for infants globally, and demand for it continues to rise. Annually, global milk production approaches one billion metric tons, surpassing the output of staple crops like wheat and rice. This gap is projected to expand further in the next ten years, as dairy consumption increases more rapidly than any other agricultural product. However, on a planet experiencing rapid climate change, this trend introduces numerous challenges.
Looking at demand, over 500 million children under the age of five reside in developing nations, with nearly one-third suffering from stunted growth — a condition linked to long-term health, educational, and economic setbacks. Many of these children could benefit from a strategy initially proposed by Scottish nutritionist John Boyd Orr in the 1920s: supplying dairy products to enhance their nutritional intake.