The cheese industry's global economic landscape: An essential perspective

Abstract

Fermented products such as cheese, consumed fondly in many parts of the world, are seen as value-added dairy products due to their functional and economic effects on health. This research examines the financial performance of the cheese industry from both production and consumption perspectives. It evaluates global costs of cheese production, production capacities, and the contributions of local cheese markets to the regional economy and development. The study highlights the emergence of cheese tourism as a significant interest area within gastronomy tourism, particularly in countries like France, Italy, Spain, and New Zealand. Recent research also suggests potential for cheese tourism in Brazil and Russia. Cheese tourism intersects with industrial tourism, with cheese-related activities crucial to economic development. Within the scope of this study, a conceptual analysis was carried out from a financial perspective on the cheese food product, which is the most produced and consumed among milk and dairy products.