The European Dairy Association’s (EDA) weekly bulletin: the 14–16 October Annual Convention, the Białystok forum, a new EU public-procurement proposal and innovation for sustainable dairy.

The European Dairy Association (EDA) has published its latest Dairy Flash bulletin (#12/2026, 17 September). Highlights include a preview of the EDA Annual Convention in Bratislava — whose speakers include Oleksandr Avramuk, General Manager of Lactalis Ukraine — the 23rd International Dairy Community Forum in Białystok, a new EU Commission proposal on public procurement and innovation for sustainable dairy, EDA reports.

EDA Annual Convention 2026: Bratislava, 14–16 October

The EDA Annual Convention 2026 runs 14–16 October in Bratislava under the motto „European Dairy: Local Roots and Global Competitiveness“. Organisers say the sector’s strength lies in combining deep local traditions with a strong position in global markets. A second session runs under „Dairy Delivering Nutrition: Excellence Across the World“.

Announced speakers include:

  • Albert de Groot — EDA President
  • Marián Šolty — SMZ President (Slovak Dairy Association)
  • Richard Takáč — Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic
  • Flavio Coturni — Head of Unit, DG Trade, EU Commission
  • Christoph Till — Managing Director, Meggle SK/CR/HU
  • Piercristiano Brazzale — CEO, Brazzale S.p.A
  • Oisin Morrin — CEO, Tippagral France
  • Oleksandr Avramuk — General Manager, Lactalis Ukraine
  • Alex Henriksen — Managing Director, East Europe, Tetra Pak
  • Ludovic Meilhac — McKinsey & Company
  • Miquela L. Hanselman — U.S. dairy policy specialist, USDEC
  • Martin Polovka — Food Specialist, National Agricultural and Food Centre (Slovakia)
  • Adela Putinelu — Senior Manager, Government Affairs EMEA, Sealed Air
  • Neil Dunn — VP, Food Packaging Solutions EMEA, Sealed Air
  • Gilles Froment — IDF President (International Dairy Federation)
  • Pietro Paganini — President, Competere
  • Daniela Martini — Associate Professor, University of Milano
  • Isabelle Pitter — Chief Procurement & Supply Chain Officer, Prolactal GmbH (Women in Dairy)
  • Diego Canga Fano — Deputy Director-General, DG AGRI

Moderators: Rose O’Donovan (AGRA FACTS) and Kinga Adamaszwili (EDA). Registration at eda2026.eu.

EDA at the International Dairy Community Forum in Białystok

How can the European dairy sector stay competitive in the global context? That was the overarching question of a panel opened by Pierre Bascou (Deputy Director-General, DG AGRI, EU Commission). The Commission was clear that the competitiveness, resilience and sustainable future of the EU livestock sector — dairy included — are front and centre of its current agri-food policy.

EDA Deputy Secretary General Kinga Adamaszwili noted that the complexity of the EU legal framework and various pressures along the dairy chain create tough challenges for EU processors. She thanked the Commission for efforts to lighten the legislative burden on milk producers and called for continued dialogue between the EU institutions and EDA on issues still needing simplification, and highlighted EDA’s role in turning the diversity of national dairy associations into one strong European voice in Brussels.

A sharp analysis of the sector’s challenges and opportunities was presented by Łukasz Wyrzykowski (IFCN). National experiences were shared by Germany (Friedrich Diesselhorst, German Dairy Industry Association/MIV) and the Netherlands (Monika Błeszyńska, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Warsaw). The panel was moderated by Dr Paweł Chmieliński (Polish Institute of Rural Development and Agriculture). 

The 23rd edition of the forum in Białystok, Poland, was again organised by Agnieszka Maliszewska of the Polish Chamber of Milk (Polska Izba Mleka).

A European „Dankeschön“ to Dr Hermann-Josef Baaken

Last week, more than 350 representatives of the German feed industry (Deutscher Verband Tiernahrung, DVT) gathered at the DVT Jahrestagung 2026 under the headline „A stress test for food security: Geopolitical turning points and their impact on the feed sector“. EDA’s Alexander Anton joined the panel alongside Stefanie Sabet (Secretary General, German Farmers’ Association) and Dr Torsten Staack (CEO, ISN).

„With the ‘Livestock Strategy’, EU Commissioner Christophe Hansen has defined a new EU approach to livestock production. Dairy is, in Germany and all over Europe, the driving force for excellence, sustainability and resilience. And we ‘depend to a large extent on the use of safe and good-quality feed’, as the EU Feed Regulation puts it,“ said Anton, also highlighting EDA’s close cooperation with the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC).

The assembly was also the occasion to bid farewell to Dr Hermann-Josef Baaken, DVT’s long-standing CEO and a driving force in the German and European feed industry, and to welcome DVT’s new CEO, Dr Sebastian Schwarz.

New EU proposal backs organic food and geographical indications in public procurement

On 9 September, the EU Commission proposed a new public-procurement regulation consolidating three 2014 directives (on concessions, procurement and utilities — 2014/23, 24, 25) into a single harmonised framework across the EU. The proposal explicitly notes that „public purchasers may“ set guidelines and take into account whether goods are organically produced or covered by quality schemes such as geographical indications (GI). EDA welcomed the proposal for streamlining EU policy and strengthening European dairy excellence.

Innovation supporting sustainable dairy in Europe

Last week, EDA attended the European Milk Forum (EMF) event „Farming forward with European Dairy“ at a dairy farm near Brussels. It showcased how innovation supports more sustainable dairy production across Europe, including the use of AI and digital technologies to collect and analyse farm-level data and support farmers’ decisions. 

A farm visit let participants see concrete on-the-ground solutions around water use, biogas production and resource efficiency.

Welcome, Channel Islands!

EDA welcomed its new Brussels office neighbours, the Channel Islands Brussels Office (Alderney, Jersey, Guernsey, Sark and Herm). In keeping with EDA tradition, the welcome came with a dairy touch: Rebecca Millar and her team received a Tetra Pak carton of Jersey milk from the Netherlands.

Welcoming EDA’s new trainees from Northern Europe

This autumn EDA welcomes three new trainees from the north of the continent: Hanna Hegstad (Norway), Jan-Hendrik Arndt (Germany) and Jakob Radmer (Denmark). Their favourite dairy products: Jakob Radmer — Risalamande (a Danish rice-and-cream pudding); Hanna Hegstad — Christmas brown cheese (brunost); Jan-Hendrik Arndt — Skyr.

Source: EDA