Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy have formed  the Dairy Research Institute, a non-profit organization created to strengthen the dairy industry’s access to and investment in the technical research needed to drive global demand for dairy products and ingredients.

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 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 Rosemont, Ill.-based DMI, which manages the national dairy checkoff program on behalf of the nation’s dairy farmers. “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 launch of the Dairy Research Institute builds upon the unprecedented efforts of dairy producers, processors and manufacturers to work together pre-competitively through the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, which provides a forum for industry professionals to identify major research needs to support dairy industry innovation and grow dairy sales.

“The U.S. dairy industry has a long history of using science-based research to provide the knowledge, guidance and tools needed to foster innovation and promote the nutrient-rich value of dairy and the industry’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Greg Miller, executive vice president, research, regulatory and scientific affairs for DMI and president of the Dairy Research Institute.  “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.”

Dairy Research Institute is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and was created to strengthen the dairy industry’s access to and investment in the technical research required to drive innovation and demand for dairy products and ingredients, globally. The institute will work with and through industry, academic, government and commercial partners to drive pre-competitive research in nutrition, products and sustainability.

Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy provides a forum for the dairy industry to work together pre-competitively to address barriers and opportunities to foster innovation and increase sales. The Innovation Center aligns the collective resources of the industry to offer consumers nutritious dairy products and ingredients, and promote the health of people, communities, the planet and the industry. The board of directors for the Innovation Center represents leaders of 31 key U.S. producer organizations, dairy cooperatives, processors, manufacturers and brands. The Innovation Center is supported and staffed by Dairy Management Inc.

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) is a non-profit domestic and international planning and management organization, responsible for increasing sales of and demand for U.S.-produced dairy products and ingredients on behalf of America’s dairy producers. DMI manages the American Dairy Association, National Dairy Council and U.S. Dairy Export Council.

For more information, contact dairyresearchinstitute@usdairy.com.