US dairy lobbying group Dairy Management Inc (DMI) and the Innovation Center for US Dairy have said the formation of the Dairy Research Institute, a non-profit organisation, will strengthen the dairy industry’s access to and investment in the technical research needed to drive demand for dairy products and ingredients, globally. The institute brings together leadership from across the dairy industry, scientific community, academics, government and other organizations to plan and fund leading-edge dairy research in three key priority areas: 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,” Kevin Ponticelli, chairman of the Dairy Research Institute board of directors and executive vice president of DMI, says. “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 Dairy Research Institute builds on the legacy of nutrition and product research conducted by the National Dairy Council since 1915, and will leverage their expertise, as well as other partners, including five dairy research centers at major universities and government agencies, such as the USDA’s Agricultural Research Services and the Department of Defense’s Natick Soldier Center, and other leading scientific, health and nongovernment organizations. The Dairy Research Institute also will coordinate with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the National Milk Producers Federation, the Milk Processor Education Program, DMI, US Dairy Export Council, Global Dairy Platform, and other industry and non-industry partners.