Mongolian Camel milk cluster

Camel milk is recognized as a highly nutritious food with significant benefits for public health. In many parts of the world, fresh and fermented camel milk is consumed not only as food but also for its therapeutic properties, and it is used in medicinal and cosmetic products. ( In India, Russia, and Sudan, as a pretreatment for several diseases such as diabetes, tuberculosis, autism, dropsy, asthma, and jaundice)

Mongolia is home to Bactrian camels and has preserved its culture through centuries of camel herding. Dairy Asia, in cooperation with the FAO office in Mongolia, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia, the EU-funded project “International Trade Development,” and other knowledge partners, organized a series of workshops to build a Camel milk cluster in Mongolia from 2022 to 2024.  The Mongolian camel milk cluster was officially established on October 4, 2024, marking a significant dedication for the International Year of Camelids.

The Cluster’s board comprises representatives from a diverse group of stakeholders, including TESO, “Suu” SC, Solid Partners Group, the “Mongol Bactrian” Association, the National University of Mongolia, National Research Institute of Animal Husbandry, “Ingen Tagsh” LLC in Umnugobi Province, a camel herder from Dundgobi Province, a FAO consultant, and Dairy Asia.

The primary mandate of the Cluster is to serve as a platform for knowledge and information sharing, technology transfer, standardization, and fostering cooperation and partnership with a focus on sustainability in the camel milk sector. Its strategic objectives include protecting Bactrian camel genetics, enhancing the livelihoods of camel herders, improving husbandry practices, and increasing productivity. Furthermore, the Cluster will focus on developing sustainable value chains and establishing cooperation with international market stakeholders.