IOC President Coventry praises Mengniu's desert treatment efforts

During her visit to China, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry toured the headquarters of China's dairy giant Mengniu in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, on Nov 11.

She was welcomed by Mengniu CEO Gao Fei and visited the company's modern dairy production base. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions about integrating sports and nutrition and advancing sustainable development, and looked forward to the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Gao also invited Coventry to visit the Ulan Buh Desert, where Mengniu has carried out long-term ecological restoration projects. She praised Mengniu's desertification treatment efforts, describing the results as "incredible green achievements".

Located in Inner Mongolia, the Ulan Buh Desert is China's eighth largest desert. Since 2009, Mengniu has worked with multiple partners to combat desertification in the area, planting 98 million desert-adapted plants and restoring over 220 square kilometers of desert land.

The company has also pioneered a model that integrates ecological restoration with industrial development, creating an organic dairy value chain that links organic farming, livestock breeding, and milk processing.

During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Mengniu showcased its desert treatment success in a unique way – transforming a 140-square-meter area beneath the Eiffel Tower's beach volleyball venue into a "desert oasis". This initiative highlighted China's achievements and commitment to combating desertification, aiming to inspire global environmental action.

At the event, Mengniu launched the "Ulan Buh Ecological Protection Plan", pledging to restore 10 million square meters of land over the next five years, enhance local biodiversity and ecosystem stability, and promote rural vitalization through green industries.

Coventry commended Mengniu for combining nutrition with sustainability, saying the company "not only provides healthy dairy products but also takes active responsibility in environmental protection". She expressed hope for closer future collaboration to advance sports and public well-being through the combined power of nutrition and movement.

Gao noted that, as the first dairy enterprise to become a Worldwide Olympic Partner (TOP), Mengniu remains committed to upholding Olympic values. By integrating desert restoration with industrial innovation, Mengniu has developed a sustainable model for "industrial ecology and ecological industrialization", offering valuable experience to the global green transition.

Moving forward, Mengniu will continue to fulfill its TOP responsibilities and promote sustainability across its global operations, supporting the long-term development of both the Olympic sports and the global sports community.