Ulaanbaatar, July 8, 224 /MONTSAME/. An initiative to establish the World Two-Humped Camel Association in Mongolia under the Dairy Asia partnership was approved during a bilateral meeting with the International Camel Organization, marking the commencement of cooperation between the two organizations.

There are 42 million camels worldwide, with one million having two humps. The camel sector has the potential to significantly contribute to protecting camel pasture and the eco-environment, enhancing camel productivity, improving the lives of camel herders, developing the sector through an extensive network, introducing best practices, and cooperating with other countries.

This aligns with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, specifically mitigating poverty and achieving gender equality.

Regular consumption of camel milk and dairy products is associated with potential health benefits, including preventing or managing diabetes, tuberculosis, allergies, hepatitis, and asthma.

The First IDF Regional Dairy Conference Asia Pacific 2024, held in Kochi, India from June 26th to 29th, 2024, emphasized the importance of promoting and developing camel farming for dairy production, as well as fostering further cooperation in the camel sector.

During the conference, Mr. Batbaatar Bayarmagnai, the CEO and Coordinator of Dairy Asia, presented the implementation of the Dairy Asia partnership. His presentation focused on several key initiatives:

-Establishing the World Yak Association and the World Two-Humped Camel Association in Mongolia,

-Promoting cooperation between countries with the yak and two-humped camel,

-The Dairy Week Initiative: This initiative is linked to World Milk Day and likely involves activities promoting dairy products during that week,

-Cooperation between the Government of Mongolia, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia, and the Dairy Asia Secretariat Office.

During the conference, participants discussed ensuring the sustainable development of environment-friendly camel farming, preserving camel culture and traditions, highlighting the nutritional benefits of camel milk and other dairy products for human health, and addressing common issues such as consumption, production, and development opportunities in the sector.

At the bilateral meeting with the management of the International Dairy Federation, it was agreed that Mongolia would join the working group for the development of international standards for camel milk under the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

During the meeting, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the Dairy Asia Secretariat office, the Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the International Camel Organization, and the National Dairy Development Board of the Republic of India jointly organized the International Year of Camelids 2024.

The Asia region contributes 60 percent of worldwide dairy product consumption and over 40 percent of dairy production.