As membrane technologies continue to reshape dairy processing, ultrafiltered milk is becoming an effective platform for innovation across categories, especially as processors respond to rising demand for high-protein, reduced-sugar and clean-label products.

At the upcoming Membrane Technology Forum, Poonkodi Tamilmani, Ph.D., director of innovation at Darigold, will present the keynote session, Ultrafiltered Milk as a Platform for Consumer-Driven Dairy Innovation.

The session will examine how ultrafiltration (UF) is helping reshape dairy product development by giving processors greater control over composition, functionality and nutritional positioning. By concentrating protein while reducing lactose, minerals and water, UF creates a flexible dairy base that can support innovation in fluid milk, ready-to-drink beverages, cultured dairy products and nutritional applications.

The topic reflects several of the industry’s current priorities, including the push for value-added dairy products, more targeted nutritional benefits, and technologies that help manufacturers innovate using established, scalable processing approaches rather than highly specialized formulations.

Tamilmani’s presentation will highlight the compositional and functional advantages of ultrafiltered milk and explore how processors can use membrane technology to expand product portfolios in response to changing consumer expectations.

Tamilmani says, “Attendees will walk away with a framework for turning membrane processing capabilities into commercially viable ingredient pipelines, including how to connect milk separation and concentration technologies with product development, customer needs, and value creation.”

About Poonkodi Tamilmani Ph.D., director of innovation for Darigold

Poonkodi Tamilmani leads innovation initiatives at Darigold Inc., focused on developing value-added dairy products. She specializes in applying technologies such as ultrafiltration and aseptic processing to create high-protein, clean-label products aligned with evolving consumer needs. With over a decade of experience, she brings a strong ability to translate complex food science into practical, scalable solutions that bridge consumer needs with manufacturing realities.

Courtesy of Poonkodi Tamilmani

About the Membrane Technology Forum

The annual Membrane Technology Forum, hosted by Dairy Foods magazine and the American Dairy Products Institute, is the premier live event in the commercial membrane and membrane technology sector. This event covers key concepts and innovations for the sector, from the fundamentals of membrane technology, fouling and cleaning, to emerging technologies and applications with real world case studies that highlight challenges, proposed solutions and results. 

The Membrane Technology Forum serves processors, plant managers, engineers, chemists, equipment manufacturers, research and development, sales and marketing specialists, technicians and other industry professionals.

The program features a series of two dedicated educational tracks, each with short, informative technical sessions covering current topics and emerging trends. Attendees will gain fresh ideas, trusted data and proactive solutions to help their companies evolve with changing trends in membrane technology.

The Membrane Technology Forum also features a select group of innovative and forward-thinking suppliers on hand to demonstrate their new technologies and products designed to improve processing operations.

The 2026 Forum will take place June 15–17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington – Minneapolis South in Minneapolis, Minn.

Learn more and register at dairyfoods.com/membrane-forum