Mengniu president envisions sustainable ecosystem for global dairy industry

The 2026 World Dairy Industry Conference, co-hosted by Mengniu Group and other partners, opened in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Aug 1.

The conference brought together representatives, including heads of international industry associations, academicians, and the leaders of the world's most prominent global dairy enterprises, to discuss the future of the global dairy industry.

The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) officially awarded Hohhot the title of "World Dairy Capital", marking the city's leap from "China's Dairy Capital" to "World Dairy Capital".

The opening ceremony of the 2026 World Dairy Industry conference. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]

Gao Fei, president of Mengniu, said the group will continue to enhance its three-tier scientific research system covering basic nutrition, functional nutrition, and medical nutrition.

Gao Fei, president of Mengniu, delivers a speech. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]

The company will also open its research platforms, microbial strain resources, and processing systems to the entire industry, sharing its scientific achievements with all parties.

Mengniu built the world's first fully digital intelligent factory in 2023. That same year, the facility was recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) as a National Smart Manufacturing Demonstration Factory.

In 2024, it was named by the World Economic Forum as the world's first "Lighthouse Network" for liquid milk. In 2025, it was listed among MIIT's first batch of Excellent-level Smart Factories and National 5G Factories.

The Key Laboratory of Deep Processing of Milk, led by Mengniu, is approved. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]