February 8, 2006

Fonterra partners with US dairy producers to research whey protein
 

Fonterra, New Zealand's largest dairy co-operative, has joined hands with US diary organisation Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), to fund research into the benefits of whey protein.

DMI is a non-profit organisation representing the American Dairy Association, National Dairy Council and the US Dairy Export Council.

A seed fund will be set up to enable researchers to get government funding for whey research. Such scientific research will be used to substantiate marketing claims on the benefits of whey protein and enhance its sales.

The agreement between DMI and Fonterra creates a new approach to funding science that can lead to increased sales in the dairy industry by showing its advantage over other protein-based products, said Tom Gallagher, chief executive of DMI.

Whey, a by-product of cheese and casein production, has only been linked to health and nutritional benefits in the last few decades. It had always been discarded until it was found to be rich in amino acids that may help in maintaining a healthy immune system. Whey is also cheap and relatively low in fat.

The animal feed industry is an important consumer of whey products. Estimates suggest that 50 percent of whey produced in the US is utilised in animal feeds in the form of whey permeate, delactosed whey and whey protein concentrates.

Sales of whey products such as high-end whey protein concentrate, whey protein hydrolysates and whey protein isolates are now enjoying growth rates as high as 20 percent a year in the US and Europe.