Nourishing the World: U.S. Dairy’s Role in Advancing Global Food Security

By Nick Gardner

Nutritious food is foundational for a healthy life and promising future. Yet hundreds of millions of people around the world lack access to safe, varied, and nourishing diets. In the face of this persistent challenge, U.S. dairy contributes to more resilient global food systems by making high-quality nutrition accessible through trade.

In 2023, as many as 757 million people worldwide experienced hunger. Data from 2022 highlights the crisis among children, with more than one in five children under the age of five stunted and 7.5% suffering from wasting. This widespread undernutrition has long-term health, cognitive, and economic consequences. 

A nutrient-dense powerhouse
The most critical window for nutritional intervention is the first 1,000 days of life, when sufficient nourishment is essential for healthy growth, brain development, and long-term potential. While no single food can meet all nutritional needs, dairy’s nutrient density makes it especially important during this critical development window. Dairy is consistently recognized as a key source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iodine, vitamin A, and vitamin B12—nutrients vital for everything from bone development to cognitive function and motor skills.

In the fight against malnutrition, adding dairy to the diets of young children can be transformative. Examples include nutrient-rich yogurts and cheeses, milk powder that can boost the nutritional profile of commonly consumed foods like porridge, and infant formulas with ingredients like lactose, casein, or whey when breastfeeding is not possible or desired.

U.S. dairy’s contribution to global markets
As one of the world’s most efficient and reliable producers, U.S. dairy helps meet global nutrition needs through trade. In fact, one recent study demonstrated that in some lower- and middle-income countries, U.S. dairy exports increased availability of vitamin A by 136%, zinc by 108%, and vitamin B12 and calcium by 88%.

These gains underscore how trade in dairy plays a complementary role where domestic production is insufficient to meet demand. With roughly one of every six tankers of American milk exported as finished product, U.S. dairy is positioned to supply nutritious products around the globe.

U.S. dairy cooperatives and processors offer a wide variety of high-quality ingredients and products that serve food manufacturers, foodservice operators, and retailers worldwide. These exports help customers deliver reliable, affordable, and innovative products to consumers.

Beyond traditional commercial channels, governments and institutions can turn to U.S. dairy to bolster local nutrition programs. In Indonesia, for example, American dairy offers a promising solution to support an expansion of their national school milk program. Through rule-based trade, U.S. dairy exports can enable continuity and access in child nutrition efforts when local supply runs short.