Khaberni - A broad debate has been raging in Jordan for years around an issue that appears technical on the surface, but at its core touches the heart of national food security, namely the use of powdered milk in the dairy industry, and the limits and regulations of its import and usage. Some may see it as a matter concerning industrialists or importers, but in truth, it extends beyond that to affect the fate of a vital sector that provides livelihood for thousands of rural and Bedouin families, and is a pillar of local food sustainability.
Today, Jordan produces more than 1200 tons of fresh milk daily, whereas this number did not exceed 900 tons just five years ago. This notable improvement reflects sustained efforts in improving breeds, developing feeding systems, implementing advanced veterinary practices, and ongoing monitoring of production quality.
It is estimated that the number of dairy cows exceeds 90,000 heads, while about 200 factories and workshops rely on local milk as a primary raw material. The sector is estimated to contribute nearly 3% of the total agricultural GDP, employs thousands of workers, and supports dozens of related activities from transportation, refrigeration, manufacturing, and marketing.
However, this national effort is now threatened by a growing challenge represented in the expansion of powdered milk imports without sufficient control of quantities and uses. When powdered milk is cheaper than locally produced fresh milk by 30 – 40%, the temptation to rely on it becomes significant, especially for some factories seeking to reduce production costs. However, this approach—if not carefully regulated—may lead to market saturation, decreased demand for fresh milk, and thereby direct losses to cattle breeders, which could push some to exit the market entirely.
What we fear is not just unfair competition, but a gradual decline in local milk production, which has been observed in several countries when the door to importing powder was wide opened. For example, in India, increased imports led to an 18% decline in fresh milk production over five years, while Brazil saw the loss of more than 20,000 small farms between 2010 and 2020 due to unequal competition.
In Jordan, the Ministry of Agriculture has been responsible for managing this portfolio for decades, through a technical committee comprising representatives from the ministries of industry and trade, customs, the General Corporation for Food and Drug, the Standards and Specifications Authority, in addition to representatives from farmers and manufacturers. This committee has successfully established clear technical standards for importing powdered milk, in line with the food standards of the Codex Alimentarius, and limit commercial fraud and ensure transparency in the mixing ratios of powdered and fresh milk.
However, the recent transfer of this portfolio to the Ministry of Industry and Trade has raised numerous questions about the compatibility of this decision with the agricultural and productive methodology that food security is based on. Milk, like meat and grains, is not just an industrial product, but a fundamental component in the agricultural and animal value chain, and should be managed within a production framework that balances the interests of the farmer, consumer, and manufacturer.
This raises a legitimate question: Where is the Supreme Council for Food Security on this issue?
The Supreme Council for Food Security was established under the Economic Modernization Vision to serve as the national reference that unites decisions and policies among sectors involved in food, and links production and consumption, trade and storage, agriculture and industry. It is the framework capable of providing independent scientific opinion, away from sectoral tensions or partial interests.
The council possesses through its technical units the ability to analyze the quantitative and qualitative impact of any import decision, and assess its implications on the national self-sufficiency index, which does not currently exceed 55% in fresh milk consumption. It can also provide proposals that balance supporting local production and ensuring the availability of goods at fair prices.
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), countries with effective national food security councils (such as Canada, the Netherlands, and France) have been able to maintain self-sufficiency rates in milk exceeding 85% thanks to coordination between producing, manufacturing, and importing institutions, and smart management of powdered milk stocks in the local market.
Ignoring the council's role in a case like this means weakening the food governance system in Jordan and opening the door to partial decisions that could disrupt agricultural supply chains. The issue is not just about an industrial product, but a source of essential protein in the national food basket, which has a direct impact on the citizen's health, food security, and economy.
What is required today is not to close the door to importing powdered milk, but to redirect the compass through the Supreme Council for Food Security to lead a balanced scientific dialogue among all parties: the farmer, manufacturer, consumer, and government. The goal is to build a win-win equation: protecting national production, developing the local industry, and ensuring safe food access for the Jordanian consumer at a fair price.
Jordan has repeatedly proven that it is capable of balancing market requirements and protecting its food security, provided that major decisions are made within an institutional framework that relies on science and data, not on momentary tensions. Food security is not just a slogan, but a comprehensive system of policies, governance, and national awareness, and the Supreme Council for Food Security is its compass that should not be absent from any decision affecting the food of Jordanians, today or tomorrow.
To avoid ongoing debates, dealing with the powdered milk file requires clear steps led by the Supreme Council for Food Security, including:
1. Preparing a national database that includes local milk production, manufacturing capacity, and consumption levels, to serve as a decision-making reference.
2. Setting a flexible annual cap for importing powdered milk linked to the level of local production, to be reviewed every six months.
3. Launching an electronic tracking system that connects factories with regulatory institutions to document the percentage of powdered milk used in final products.
4. Activating periodic studies to assess the economic and social impact of import policies on farmers, factories, and consumers.
5. Mandatorily involving the Supreme Council for Food Security in any decision or legislation that affects essential goods in the national food basket, especially milk.
With these measures, Jordan can maintain its independence in food decision-making and balance market requirements with national security needs, keeping the Jordanian food basket safe and sustainable.
*The international expert in food security
