ROSEMONT, Ill.—Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy announced the creation of the Dairy Research Institute™, a non-profit organization that will provide a forum for the industry to identify major research needs to support dairy industry innovation and grow dairy sales.
The Dairy Research Institute builds upon dairy producers, processors and manufacturers efforts to work together pre-competitively through the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy that was formed in 2008. The Institute is comprised of leadership from the dairy industry, scientific community, academics, government and other organizations to plan and fund leading-edge dairy research in the areas of nutrition science, product development and sustainability.
“The Dairy Research Institute fulfills a vital need to align our industry’s research efforts to address consumer needs and increase sales,” said Kevin Ponticelli, chair of the Dairy Research Institute Board of Directors and executive vice president of DMI. “In an increasingly competitive marketplace, it is critical that we work together as an industry to increase and manage the industry’s investment in research.”
The Institute builds on the legacy of nutrition and product research conducted by the National Dairy Council since 1915, and will leverage its expertise, as well as other partners, including five dairy research centers at major universities and government agencies, including USDA’s Agricultural Research Services, the Department of Defense’s Natick Soldier Center, and other leading scientific, health and non-government organizations.
The Institute also will coordinate with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the National Milk Producers Federation, the Milk Processor Education Program, DMI, U.S. Dairy Export Council, Global Dairy Platform, and other industry and non-industry partners.
“Through partnerships and a commitment to sound science, we will support the importance of dairy in the diet and the sustainability of the products and ingredients we produce. The dairy industry needs to remain at the forefront of research to meet the challenges of today and those yet to come,” said Greg Miller, executive vice president, research, regulatory and scientific affairs for DMI and president of the Dairy Research Institute.
