Today (Tuesday, June 1) is World Milk Day - global day of celebration to recognize the importance of milk as a universal food, according to the National Dairy Council (NDC).

The day also honours the importance of the dairy sector supporting the livelihoods of one billion people, the council notes.

In light of the day that's in it, the NDC put together a list of top milk facts across a range of areas including nutritional, environmental and economic categories.

In relation to the environmental impact of Irish dairy farming, the NDC said: "Irish dairy is based on a grass-based production system, giving it one of the lowest carbon footprints internationally.

"Efforts are focused on continuing to improve, with data from recent years showing a 10% reduction in the carbon footprint per kg of milk.

"In Ireland, approximately 99% of the water used for milk production is supplied naturally by rainfall.

"With almost zero impact on water stress, Ireland is one of the best places in the world for sustainable milk production," the council claims.

Finally, the NDC noted: "Family farms are the heart of Irish dairy, with over 18,000 farms across Ireland producing 7.5 billion litres of milk in a year."