Yili Vice President Xu Ke (Left 1) delivers a keynote speech at a session on the FAO's RENOFARM initiative. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

China's dairy giant Yili Group shared its experience in ecological restoration, smart farming, and inclusive industry development at the Global Conference for Actions on One Health in Agrifood Systems, held on Sept 22 at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy.

As the only Chinese dairy company invited to the conference, Yili Vice President Xu Ke delivered a keynote speech at a session on the FAO's Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM) initiative. He highlighted how Yili is exploring a sustainable cycle linking healthy ecosystems, animal welfare, and shared industry development.

The FAO's "One Health" approach seeks to promote the health and sustainability of people, plants, animals, and ecosystems. Launched in 2024, RENOFARM is a 10-year global initiative centered on five areas of action: good health services, good production practices, good alternatives, good connections, and good incentives.

Xu shared three examples from China to illustrate Yili's practices.

In Ar Horqin Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, Yili has developed a crop-livestock integration model by planting alfalfa with strong root systems. The model creates a sustainable cycle in which grass supports the soil, the soil supports cattle, and cattle contribute to ecological restoration.

At Yili's dairy cattle research institute, technologies such as automated barn climate control, IoT-based health monitoring, and stage-specific nutrition programs improve animal welfare and support high-quality milk production.

Yili has also worked with the FAO since 2014 to establish "Dairy Cattle Field Schools", providing farmers with training on cattle health, nutrition, and farm management, as well as financial and technical support to help upgrade their farms.