World Yak Association

Dairy Asia, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia (MoFALI), the International Dairy Federation (IDF), and the Yurta Association, convened its Dialogue on Yak Husbandry and Milk Production.

The Dialogue brought together representatives and delegates from a wide range of countries, including Bhutan, India, China, Nepal, Mongolia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and Chile. Speakers and panelists featured experts from Mongolia, Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal.

To address common challenges related to climate change, environmental sustainability, breeding, animal health, value and supply chains, and the livelihoods of yak herders, the Dairy Asia Dialogue proposed the initiative to establish a World Yak Association, to be headquartered in Mongolia. In a significant step forward, Dairy Asia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MoFALI, which has formally endorsed this initiative.

The initiative was subsequently highlighted by the Vice Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia during his address at the FAO Asia and Pacific Regional Conference. The Government of Mongolia further demonstrated its support by issuing Government Resolution No. 308, which mandates the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry to cooperate with the Dairy Asia Secretariat.

Dairy Asia introduced this initiative to the Multi-Stakeholder Meeting of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock and at the Regional meeting of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, to call for cooperation from Central Asian institutions.

To advance this initiative, the Dairy Asia Secretariat has drafted a charter for the World Yak Association.