Canada Can Reduce Milk Waste With Proper Reforms

Oct 25, 2024

The study that came out this week on milk waste is making some key recommendations.

Dalhousie University, which took part in the study says that over the past 12 years, Canadian dairy farms sent upwards of 10 billion litres of perfectly good milk, down the drain. When dairy farmers reach their quota under supply management, excess milk must be disposed of. Jacques Lefebvre, the CEO of dairy farmers of Canada was quick to point out in a statement this week to CTV, disposing of milk is only done as a last resort, and in accordance with federal regulations.

The optics are horrible, given that millions of Canadians are relying on food banks. The study estimated that all of that discarded milk, worth about 15 billion dollars, could have fed more than 4 million Canadians annually.

One of the co-authors of the study is Canada’s food professor, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. In a written statement attached to this study he says it shows that milk waste is not just a problem of inefficiency, it’s a critical sustainability issue. He added that with proper reforms, the Canadian dairy industry can make a meaningful impact on reducing waste and aligning with broader food system goals.

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Video: Food Inflation and Pork Demand - Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Professor and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, discusses how food inflation is reshaping Canadian protein demand. He explains why pork remains competitively priced, consumer behavior, and why transparency, AI-assisted shopping, and protein demand will matter in the years ahead. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The potential of pork is there. We just need to see the product assume that role and take it away because all the elements are there."

Meet the guest: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in Dalhousie University's Faculty of Management and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab. His research focuses on food distribution, food policy, food safety, food security, and traceability. Dr. Charlebois has written four books and more than 500 peer-reviewed and scientific articles. He holds a BComm from the Royal Military College, an MBA from UQAM, and a DBA from the University of Sherbrooke. Learn more from Dr. Sylvain Charlebois on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.