The U.S. dairy industry has a long history of environmental stewardship. And now, research confirms that a commitment to sustainability is growing as a factor in consumers' perception of dairy products and can influence their purchasing decisions. It has become an important issue to each segment of the fluid milk supply chain and the dairy industry as a whole.

Recognizing the importance of sustainability to dairy, the Worldwide Food Expo 2009 - North America's largest food and beverage technology event - will launch a Sustainability Pavilion at this year's show. The Pavilion will feature services and products to help dairy food manufacturers and packagers meet the demand for sustainability. It will highlight research, trends and best practices, as well as feature the latest innovations in sustainable packaging and technology.

In addition to the pavilion, there is an exceptional line-up of sustainability sessions in Expo's educational program. Sessions include sustainability as part of a business strategy, case studies of successful initiatives and quantifying sustainable measures. The "guru of green business practices," Joel Makower, will speak at the first Super Session. He is a well-respected voice on business, the environment and the bottom-line, and has helped a wide range of companies align environmental goals with business strategy.

Worldwide Food Expo, which will be held October 28-31 in Chicago, features the newest technologies in equipment, packaging, ingredients and services. Sponsored by IDFA and the American Meat Institute, Worldwide Food Expo includes more than 900 exhibits and 50 targeted conference sessions and attracts approximately 20,000 attendees from 100 countries, bringing together decision-makers at all levels of the food and beverage industry. For more information, visit the show's website, www.worldwidefood.com.

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