The issue of European dairy product imports and their consequences on local production occupied an important place in the discussions organized yesterday in Thiès, as part of the Alimenterre 2026 Festival. Through the screening of a film followed by a debate, participants were invited to reflect on the effects of globalization on food systems, the conditions of milk production and the need to promote sustainable local agriculture.

Present at the meeting, Julie Van der Kaar, coordinator of the Alimenterre festival in Belgium, particularly emphasized the issue of "fake milk," which she considers an illustration of the imbalances in international trade. According to her, dairy products imported from Europe, especially dairy industry by-products enriched with palm oil, pose a threat to the development of the Senegalese dairy sector.

“European policies have particularly harmful consequences for farmers, because everyone loses,” she emphasizes. She thus describes a paradoxical situation in which European producers, forced to sell their milk at low prices, and Senegalese farmers, facing competition from imports, both find themselves weakened.

The Alimenterre festival aims to be a space for raising awareness and fostering collective reflection. The screening of documentary films, followed by discussions with speakers, highlights the challenges faced by those involved in food systems and encourages the public to question their consumption habits.

This initiative is being carried out in partnership with the National Council for Consultation and Cooperation of Rural Communities (CNCR), a long-established organization dedicated to defending the interests of rural communities and advocating with public authorities. The ambition therefore goes beyond simply raising public awareness. It also aims to engage decision-makers, influence public policy, and contribute to the evolution of regulations in favor of a more equitable agricultural system.

Through this 2026 edition, the Alimenterre festival reminds us of the urgent need to rethink international agricultural trade and to defend sustainable, fair and resilient agriculture, capable of guaranteeing producers decent living conditions and populations quality food.