World Bactrian Camel Association

Dairy Asia, in cooperation with the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia (MoFALI), China Animal Agriculture Association, China Camel Industry Association, ICAR-National Center on Camel in India, Yak & Camel Foundation, “Camelicious”, and Mongolian Bactrian Association, convened its Dialogue on Camel Milk Production and Consumption.

The Dialogue brought together representatives and delegates from a wide range of countries, including Mongolia, China, India, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Austria, Germany, France, Kenya, the US, Japan, and Belgium. Speakers and panelists featured experts from Mongolia, China, India, Austria, and the UAE.

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) The discussions highlighted both camel milk production and broader husbandry practices. A key point was the effort in some Central Asian countries to increase milk yield by hybridizing Bactrian and dromedary camels. In response, speakers emphasized the importance of protecting the genetic purity of the Bactrian camel.

The Dairy Asia Dialogue proposed the initiative to establish a World Bactrian Camel Association, to be headquartered in Mongolia. Mongolia is home to Bactrian Camels and has preserved its camel culture. In a significant step forward, Dairy Asia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry of Mongolia, which has formally endorsed this initiative.

Dairy Asia introduced this initiative in the following main events and called for cooperation in a knowledge partnership:

• Side Event for International Year of Camelids during the FAO Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, Rome, Italy;
• Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Meeting of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock, Chiang Mai, Thailand;
• Mongol Bactrian Camel – Development Opportunity and Strategy consultative meeting, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia;
• Mongolian Camel – Sustainable Development National Forum dedicated to International Year of Camelids, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

 The Government of Mongolia 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.

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