CIHEAM Press Review

The cost of dairy products has soared by up to 33% since September, driven by a shortage of milk-producing livestock and increased costs in feed, packaging, glass, plastic, and fuel for transport. Also impacting the situation is the high number of farmers that have emigrated, with few youths wanting to remain behind to replace them.

Bakeries, brewers and milk producers are expecting the increase in the price of grains triggered by the Ukraine war to drive their costs higher with many saying they plan to absorb the blow for as long as financially feasible.
On Tuesday, Times of Malta reported how Malta’s biggest importer of grains, Federated Mills, warned of the possibility that other countries will start to restrict exports of grains and called for a national strategy on the importation of wheat.
While the problem is not imminent, it may affect the supply of products on the local market in the long run.

A recent study published in the Journal of Cleaner Productions finds greenhouse gas emissions to be 24 percent lower on organic dairy farms when compared to conventional dairy farms in the United States. These dairy farms focused on grazing and organic production techniques can sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.