Attendees at the International Dairy Show will have access to industry leaders and reliable data that can help them develop and implement sustainability strategies, reduce costs through water, energy and waste management and learn about innovative processing and packaging projects that are reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The show, presented by the International Dairy Foods Association, will take place Sept. 13-15 at the Dallas Convention Center.

"Carbon footprints, energy solutions and transportation innovations will be among the hot topics discussed throughout the Dairy Show in Dallas," said Clay Detlefsen, IDFA vice president for regulatory affairs. "Sustainability has become the business model for every successful dairy business."

The educational sessions on sustainability and plant operations will include:

Monday, Sept. 13
•  Getting Practical Today About Sustainability
This mini course will provide attendees with a step-by-step plan to evaluate their operations and establish a benchmark on usage of resources. Presentations on methods being employed today to improve resource utilization will emphasize items that can generate immediate and maximum return for minimum investment. Putting sustainability plans into effect in dairy processing facility will reduce shrink, improve asset utilization, reduce energy utilization, improve efficiencies and reduce cost per unit.

Tuesday, Sept. 14
•  Reusable Plastic Crates: Driving Sustainability in the Dairy Supply Chain
By design, reusable case and pallet systems offer dairy foods companies a sustainable, cost-effective method to ship, handle and store materials across the production process. Attendees will learn how to develop and implement the right reusable packaging program for their operation and how to quantify the environmental and economic benefits.

•  Fluid Milk: Reducing Carbon Footprint and Generating Business Value
The U.S. dairy industry’s commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions brings with it the potential for significant cost savings through increased efficiency. Attendees will learn how their organizations might benefit from groundbreaking processing and packaging projects currently underway that will help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut costs by reducing in-plant energy usage and make informed decisions.

Wednesday, Sept. 15
•  Capturing the Green While Traveling from Farm to Plant
Is there a better way to move dairy products and ingredients across the supply chain? Attendees will hear how several dairy companies are dramatically improving sustainability and increasing profitability by re-engineering their transportation processes.

•  Cleaning and Sanitizing Systems: Improving Plant Sustainability
From plant design to monitoring, the cleaning and sanitizing of process equipment offers significant opportunities for decreasing a plant’s impact on the environment and increasing cost savings. Attendees will join panelists for a look at how to design and monitor production systems for maximum impact.

Additional presentations on sustainability and plant operations will be available in the iDairyShow on-floor presentation area. Industry experts on sustainable systems, technology, packaging and practices will offer a variety of talks and demonstrations featuring water-quality criteria, nutrient-removal requirements for dairy, total plant assessment, energy recycling, hidden transportation costs, sustainable dairy engineering, liquid food and beverage recycling, best practices for saving energy, aseptic principles and practices, treating whey permeate from cheese production and more.

For additional information on sessions, speakers and demonstrations, visit www.dairyshow.com or contact Robin Cornelison, IDFA tradeshow manager, at rcornelison@idfa.org.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies representing a $110-billion-a-year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85% of the milk, cultured products, cheese, ice cream and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States. IDFA can be found online at www.idfa.org.