Editor's Viewpoint

Looking forward to 2008

Part I of this IDFA SmartBrief special year-end report looked back at the most important trends and stories of 2007. Part II, below, highlights your predictions -- and ours -- for what's in store for 2008.

The upcoming year will present many challenges and opportunities for our industry. SmartBrief readers told us that they expect rising costs, environmental issues and increasing international demand to present the greatest challenges in 2008, but the majority, 55%, have high expectations for providing solutions and meeting these challenges. Many believe that yogurt will be the standout product in terms of growth potential next year.

Also in the year ahead, IDFA will offer several exciting events, starting with Dairy Forum 2008, Jan. 20 to 23 in La Quinta, Calif. IDFA's premier annual meeting, Dairy Forum will gather players from all sectors of the dairy industry to discuss and debate the hottest policy issues. Sweetener Colloquium, another popular event, will be held Feb. 10 to 13 at the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers, Fla. Visit the IDFA Web Site for details on these events and more.

Your Predictions

Which issue dominated the industry's headlines in 2007?

• Milk prices -- 48%
  
• Food safety -- 26%
  
• rbST -- 16%
  
• Organics -- 8%
• Cloning -- 2%
  

Which sector of dairy do you think will experience the most growth in 2008?

• Yogurt/cultured products -- 51%
  
• Dried dairy ingredients -- 19%
  
• Cheese -- 17%
  
• Ice cream -- 8%
• Milk -- 5%
  

What do you think will prove to be the greatest challenge to the industry in 2008?

• Rising costs -- 63%
  
• Environmental issues -- 17%
  
• Increasing international demand -- 12%
  
• Work force issues -- 7%
• Animal diseases -- 1%
  

How high or low are your expectations for 2008?

• Moderately high -- 42%
  
• Moderately low -- 22%
  
• Neutral -- 16%
  
• Very high -- 13%
• Very low -- 7%
  

IDFA 2008 Events

Upcoming IDFA events

Dairy Forum 2008
Jan. 20 to 23
La Quinta Resort and Club
La Quinta, Calif.

International Sweetner Colloquium
Feb. 10 to 13
Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa
Fort Myers, Fla.

Ice Cream Technology Conference
Feb. 27 to 29
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort
Phoenix

Smart Marketing 2008
March 12 and 13
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
New Orleans

Milk Procurement Workshop
March 25 and 26
Embassy Suites Hotel O'Hare
Rosemont, Ill.

Dairy Cost Accounting Workshop
May 13 and 14
Embassy Suites Hotel O'Hare
Rosemont, Ill.

Cultured Dairy Products Conference
May 20 and 21
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Minneapolis

Milk Technology Conference
June 3 and 4
Hilton Salt Lake City Center
Salt Lake City

Washington Conference
June 2008
Washington, D.C.

Email: idfa@smartbrief.com
Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004
Legal and Privacy information at http://www.smartbrief.com/legal.jsp
Unsubscribe