Posted: February 11, 2011 at 2:22 pm
By News Editor
Global dairy company Fonterra is now closer to the heart of Europe’s dairy and food innovation hub with the official opening of its new Amsterdam office in The Netherlands today.
The Amsterdam office, opened by Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovations, Mr Verhagen, will bring Fonterra closer to its partners and food manufacturing customers and open the door for new ideas and products.
Fonterra’s Managing Director of Global Ingredients and Foodservices Andrei Mikhalevsky says the move to Amsterdam exemplifies Fonterra’s commitment to growing its European business alongside its investment in dairy research and innovation.
“Our new office in Amsterdam provides a home to our international sales force as well as a local technical centre to support the growth of our value-added and specialty ingredients portfolio in Europe.”
“Fonterra already has a strong relationship with the Netherlands to build upon. As well as our existing partnerships and trading presence, we have also chosen to use Dutch ports and distribution channels for the majority of our exports to Europe.”
Minister Verhagen said: “The arrival of the European headquarters of Fonterra is an asset for the Dutch agri-food sector. Their coming is also a recognition of our strong business climate. We in the Netherlands, also have much to offer in terms of our own expertise and knowledge in the field of dairy and logistics.”
A host of European and New Zealand dignitaries attended the opening including the Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, Lodewijk Asscher and New Zealand’s ambassador to The Netherlands, George Troup. Guests were greeted with a Maori Pōwhiri (traditional Maori welcome), enjoyed an array of New Zealand influenced food and had the chance to participate in a cheese tasting with technical experts.
Source: Fonterra
Posted: December 22, 2010 at 10:46 am
By News Editor
This is an interesting new study, and good news for dairy farmers. As consumers become even more time strapped, many are looking to dairy snack foods as a source of nutrition.
The international market for dairy snacks, such as cheese strings and yogurt tubes, grew by 7% in 2009 and is heading for a 6% rise this year. The first major study on this sector, by leading food and drink consultancy Zenith International, estimates total volume at 217,000 tonnes in 2010 across 26 countries in North America, Latin America, West Europe, East Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
Currently, the majority of dairy snack products are cheese-based and targeted at children. In some countries, however, manufacturers are increasingly looking at innovations for adults. Although many dairy snacks are designed to be eaten on the move, some recent launches have been designed for at-home snacking, reflecting continuing changes in consumer eating habits.
Of the total dairy snack volume identified in 2009, the US accounted for almost two-thirds. The UK was the second largest market, with other key countries including France, Canada, Germany and Japan. The most developed regions are North America, West Europe and Australasia, with Latin America and East Europe presenting the next opportunities for companies to be first to market.
The most successful dairy snack products have come from leading international players in the overall dairy market, who command brand recognition and marketing power. Key players and brands include Bel with Mini Babybel, Kraft with Dairylea, and Yoplait yogurt tubes. In countries where dairy snacks have been available for longer and are more established, retailer private labels have been introduced, but these have yet to make a material impact.
“Dairy snacks, although a relatively recent phenomenon, have firmly established themselves as an important segment within both the dairy market and the wider market for snacks,” commented Zenith Market Analyst Laura Knight. “As modern on-the-go lifestyles have left consumers time poor, many people are increasingly looking for a convenient snack that delivers on health and nutrition, also one that tastes good and provides a pleasurable eating experience. Dairy snacks are well placed to meet these consumer demands and manufacturers have begun to capitalise on the opportunity this presents.”
Although dairy snacks are undeveloped as a snack segment, compared to more traditional snacking foods such as crisps and bars, it is clear that there is considerable long term potential for the market and Zenith expects the market to reach over 260,000 tonnes by 2014.
Source: Australian Food News
Posted: November 4, 2010 at 8:48 am
By Chuck
One of the features of the Alltech Global 500 are a series of discussion dinners. Attendees can choose a topic of they are most interested in. During the dinners a moderator will stimulate conversation with everyone providing input. It’s a great opportunity to interact with other dairy and beef producers from around the world and hear their perspectives on these topics.
I attended a dinner with the topic of milk quality. I met Travis from Texas and Charles from New Zealand. We spoke after the dinner and you’ll hear them say that the ability to meet with and talk with other dairy farmers is one of the most important things they get out of the conference. They also realize how similar their challenges are regardless of what country they live in.
You can listen to my interview with Travis and Charles here: Discussion Dinner Interview
Alltech Global 500 Photo Album
Posted: November 3, 2010 at 12:56 pm
By Chuck
I think the comment I’ve heard most often at the Alltech Global 500 is how important and rewarding the interaction with other dairy and beef producers from around the world is. We’ve got 29 countries represented here. One of our international visitors that I met today was George Strang, Scotland.
George is a dairy farmer with 250 cows and it’s a family run farm. He actually won an Alltech competition and the prize was this trip. He’s loving his first visit to the USA. He admits that he hasn’t embraced technology as much as he should so he’s planning on getting a Facebook account to help keep in touch with other farmers he’s met here. He says he has found that farmers face the same kinds of challenges regardless of what country they are from. However, he says his country is one of the few that doesn’t grow corn so he’s hoping some varieties will be created that can be grown in Scotland.
You can listen to my interview with George here: Interview With George Strang
Alltech Global 500 Photo Album
Posted: November 2, 2010 at 4:26 pm
By Chuck
A forward looking panel of experts spoke to the Alltech Global 500 today. Their topic, “Forecast 2025: A vision for the future.” Now that’s not an easy task!
I spoke with one of the panelists, Mandi McLeod, Dunvegan Farms, Ltd, New Zealand. Mandi says the future is about doing what you do well and focusing on the resources you have, in fact, “use them to the absolute maximum.” She says that you have to make sure your profits and people are sustainable and that profits come before production. She was very clear that by 2025 she hopes there will be no subsidies. I asked her what sustainability means to her. She provides a very common sense definition. Too bad there are so many that aren’t! She says farmers here are curious about prices and controls and how to become more profitable.
You can listen to my interview with Mandi here: Interview With Mandi Mcleod
Alltech Global 500 Photo Album
Posted: October 5, 2010 at 2:29 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
According to the official attendance figures from World Dairy Expo, there were 65,136 visitors to this year’s event, including 2,468 from 87 countries. Among those international visitors were a delegation from China hosted by Novus International, shown here attending a seminar sponsored by Novus on feeding lower protein rations. They also were able to make a few other stops during their visit to the United States, courtesy of Novus.
“We are Novus International and we take the international part very seriously,” said Stephanie Gable, Global Market Manager for Ruminants with Novus. “We’re in over 90 countries and we’re strong in those other countries understanding what those local needs are. And as a native Missourian, I also understand the importance of agriculture here in the United States and whenever you take people from other countries to show them what we’re doing, you realize what proud heritage we have.”
Stephanie just returned from a tour of five different countries in Eastern Europe with a group called Global Dairy Farmers. “When you’re traveling through Poland and East Germany, and Romania and Hungary, and you’re walking on dairy farms that not very long ago were communist, state-run dairy farms, you realize that the agriculture today in those countries is not where we are in the U.S.,” says Stephanie. “Getting a chance to see other parts of the world was a wonderful experience, but it makes you appreciate what you have right here in your own backyard.”
She notes that increased global demand for dairy products continues to create growth both for the export market here at home and for production in other countries.
Listen to my interview with Stephanie from World Dairy Expo here. Stephanie Gable Interview
2010 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
Thanks to our World Dairy Expo sponsors:
Posted: September 7, 2010 at 7:42 pm
By News Editor
Dairy companies and suppliers of technology and equipment are being invited to form consortia to research and demonstrate new energy efficient technologies in both CIP and homogenization. The Carbon Trust will provide up to £500,000 per project to fund a maximum of 60% of project costs, depending on State Aid rules for the project type and size of company, as well as value for money considerations.
The organization, in partnership with Dairy UK, is inviting consortia to submit proposals to deploy less energy hungry and lower carbon technologies for clean-in-place (CIP) and homogenization.
The invitation comes as part of the Carbon Trust’s Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA): a £15m program that aims to generate a step change in reducing energy use and carbon emissions in British industry.
An initial phase to monitor energy use at dairy production sites has already taken place in collaboration with Robert Wiseman Dairies, Arla, Dairy Crest, BV Dairy, and Glanbia Cheese.
As a result, CIP and homogenization have been identified as two key processes where the demonstration and deployment of new technologies could significantly reduce energy use, operating costs and carbon emissions.
“Carbon emissions from clean-in-place in dairy are up to 46,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum and could account for as much as 5% of the sector’s total emissions. Similarly, homogenization is a very energy intensive process where alternatives could bring real cost and carbon savings,’ said Al-Karim Govindji, Technology Acceleration Manager at the Carbon Trust.
“The IEEA is designed to catalyze change by demonstrating new, lower-carbon technical solutions that can then be replicated widely across the dairy sector.”
The call for proposals is open from 21st September 2010 to 22nd November 2010.
Source: Carbon Trust; Dairy UK; and Proud of Dairy
Posted: September 1, 2010 at 9:42 pm
By News Editor
Fonterra has rented a big new warehouse just down the highway from its United States headquarters near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.
Fonterra has taken 46,500 square metres of space in the Heartland Corporate Centre at Shorewood, 66km from Chicago and is expected to channel significant amounts of its billion-dollar exports to the US through the site.
The warehouse has been vacant for several years but its owner, ING Clarion, is installing a new security fence to meet conditions of a Partnership Against Terrorism Act that requires cargo handling areas for imported products to be protected.
“It’s nice to get a huge client out there,” said a Shorewood Village trustee, Gary Fitzgerald, who heads its planning committee. “The drought has ended,” he told the Joliet Herald-News.
The warehouse was built in 2007 as the start of a projected 63ha business campus.
Product will be shipped from New Zealand to US ports, and sent by rail to Chicago, which is considered a central point for US distribution.
Two years ago Fonterra USA opened a $4 million research and development site – its Chicago technical centre – near O’Hare Airport, and moved its corporate headquarters to Rosemont, the suburb adjoining the airport.
The technical centre’s processing equipment and sample analysis lab are planned to be developed into a major sensory application centre to work directly with North American customers for dairy proteins and other ingredients, including HP Hood, Nestle and Unilever.
Source: Stuff.Co.Nz
Posted: July 19, 2010 at 6:18 pm
By News Editor
Bright Dairy, a China-based dairy company, will be investing in New Zealand dairy company Synlait Milk.
Bright Dairy will own 51 percent of a new company, which will specialize in making infant and whole milk powder for Chinese consumers. Synlait will continue to own and operate its Synlait farms in Canterbury through a separate company.
Bright Dairy is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and says it “holds the leading position in value-added consumer dairy products in China and is China’s third largest dairy company by volume.”
The company, a subsidiary of Bright Food Ltd, has a market capitalisation of approximately NZ$1.7 billion and reported revenues of approximately NZ$1.63 billion for the 2009 calendar year.
Synlait Milk’s chief executive John Penno said work had already begun building a second large scale milk powder processing plant capable of producing high specification milk powders alongside the company’s existing facility at Dunsandel near Christchurch. This plant will be commissioned in time for the 2011/12 season, more than doubling the capacity of the site.
Source: NZ HERALD
Posted: July 8, 2010 at 8:36 pm
By News Editor
All across the world, dairy farmers are leading their finest dairy cows across the show ring tanbark. But, what does a blue ribbon compare to being crowned the 2010 Baileys® Irish Champion Cow?
The dairy cow contest is sponsored Baileys® Irish Cream in Dublin. Over 20 groomed and pampered ‘cowtestants’ from all over the island of Ireland will wear their county sashes with pride as they parade in front of the judges at the Virginia Show, in County Cavan on July 31 for the title. Superior milk production is a must for short-listing but final judgment on the day will be on looks alone with marks going for shapely legs, an elegant neck, good-shaped back and well proportioned udders.
For dairy breeders, winning ‘the Baileys®’ is like having a horse win at the Grand National. Widely acknowledged in agricultural circles as the most prestigious dairy livestock event in Ireland and Britain, this is of course serious stuff for the dairy breeders.
“Never mind the World Cup, the only cup the entrants will be interested in winning this summer will be our Virginia Milk Products Cup! quipped Competition Director Brendan Smyth, “because for dairy cow breeders, winning ‘the Baileys®’ is like having a horse win at the Grand National.”
275 million litres of milk per year from over 35,000 Irish cows across 1,400 farms is needed to make Baileys®. Together, they contribute to the 2,300 glasses of Baileys® that are drunk every minute of every day across 130 countries and this prestigious event is only open to the best bred ‘supermilkers’ amongst them, that is cows producing over 11,000 litres of milk a year. For all their hard work in the making of Baileys’ quality cream ingredient, it makes perfect sense that the world’s no. 1 liqueur should recognize and reward the queen of them all.
Source: PRWEB
Posted: July 8, 2010 at 12:07 pm
By Chuck
Instead of listening to presenters from the Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech, let’s hear from some of the participants. I spoke with many of them but only interviewed four. I think they give you a pretty good sense of how international this conference is.
Let’s start with Georgios Valergakis, Greece. He attended since he thinks we live in an “era of efficiency” and believed this type of gathering would be very useful. I asked him if the economic problems we hear about in Greece translate to the dairy industry but he says that it “is not that bad.”Georgios Valergakis Interview
Next up we have Johann Gasteiner from Austria. Johann was interested in nutritional disorders and the topic of SARA brought him to the symposium. He says it’s a big topic and “everywhere.” Johann Gasteiner Interview
Another participant was Christof Fry from Germany. He works at a feed mill so it was interesting to hear that he was attending to find new ideas to improve the products his company offers to their customers. He says the information he collects will be helpful in the long run for his business. Christof Fry Interview
And finally I spoke with Uldis Ositis, Latvia. He says the symposium has provided him with the information he was looking for. He found the presentations to be at a very high scientific level. Uldis Ositis Interview
Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
Posted: July 2, 2010 at 9:00 am
By Chuck
The Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech has come to an end. It has been two days packed with presentations on a very specific topic that is of growing importance to the industry, Rumen Health: A 360 Degree Analysis. I think we did look at the subject from just about every angle possible.
I started my coverage of the conference with a preview interview with Sylvie Andrieu, European Ruminant Technical Manager, Alltech. So what better way than to wrap it up in the same way?
Sylvie says it was a wonderful symposium, especially the discussion opportunities and interaction between people from a large number of countries. She also notes how interesting it was that some of the researcher presenters questioned the SARA concept and think that it should perhaps be renamed. It was clear that what is called SARA is more diverse than was thought. I concur with Sylvie that the feedback I heard from attendees has been very positive. Hopefully this means the symposium goals were achieved.
I’ll have more interview posts after the U.S. holiday weekend so until then . . .
Sylvie Andrieu Closing Interview
Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
Posted: July 2, 2010 at 3:14 am
By Chuck
Dr. Andre Bannink, Wageningen UR Livestock Research, conducted a presentation titled, “Variation in rumen fermentation and rumen wall during transition period” during the Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech. I spoke with him about his topic during our gala dinner reception.
He is a “modeler” which means he develops mathematical models which predict how the animal responds on a diet. He says there’s a big debate on rumen acidosis here at the symposium and a lot of questions being asked. For a solutions symposium he thinks more questions have been raised than answers. His presentation focused on how well a high yielding early lactation dairy cow rumen can adapt to a big increase in feed intake. He conducted a test comparing two groups of dairy cows. One received a very quick increase in feed and the other was “steamed up” (his term) much more slowly. The main conclusion was that the rumen wall was very capable of adapting to either strategy with very little difference between the two. They compared 10 days to 20 days. So now he thinks further work should be done to see if there is a limit to how fast you can “steam up” a dairy cow.
Dr. Andre Bannink Interview
Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
Posted: July 2, 2010 at 2:56 am
By Chuck
The final day of the Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech, was started by Dr. Ad van Vuuren, Wageningen UR Livestock Research. We sat together on the bus from our hotel this morning and I asked him about the session he would be moderating.
His session focused on rumen adaptation and animal health. He says “rumen fermentation in dairy cows is one of the main contributors to the feed efficiency of dairy cows so it’s very important to maintain good, healthy rumen fermentation not only from the point of view of the environment or animal welfare but especially from animal production.” He says that practical nutritionists often over simplify solutions when answers to rumen health problems are more complicated. So he sees a need for more out of the box thinking and encourages new ideas which is what the symposium is hoping to do.
Dr. Ad van Vuuren Interview
Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
Posted: July 1, 2010 at 9:04 am
By Chuck
Dr. Juan Tricarico brought the history of yeast research to the audience at the Dairy Solutions Symposium. He is Research Manager for Ruminant Nutrition for Alltech. He says there is a lot of information about yeast and its mode of action. He hopes that participants in the symposium will leave with a better understanding of how yeast affects rumen function and improves the ruminal environment as a whole so that it can be used more effectively. This will give the dairy farmer a bigger bang for their buck when they invest in yeast products.
Dr. Juan Tricarico Interview
Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
Posted: July 1, 2010 at 8:05 am
By Chuck
“Modifying the rumen to reduce the risk of acidosis” was the title of Prof. Sergio Calsamiglia’s presentation at the Dairy Solutions Symposium. He works in the veterinary school at Universitat AutÒnoma de Barcelona.
He says research shows that acidosis is not just a pH problem but related to the type of feed you’re using. There is evidence that although using bicarbonate helps, it doesn’t solve the problem. Conversely, there are feed additives that don’t impact pH but help the problem. He says he thinks the term acidosis may mislead people since there are products like yeast that can help the problem even though it is not a buffer. The bottom line is that good nutrition and animal care is the most important thing to work on.
Prof. Sergio Calsamiglia Interview
Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
Posted: July 1, 2010 at 5:07 am
By Chuck
Prof. Joachim Kleen, Alta Genetics Germany, told us all about SARA in dairy herds at the Dairy Solutions Symposium. SARA is sub-acute ruminal acidosis and becoming a real problem. Understanding it better and what is being done to reduce or control it was the subject of his presentation.
As most dairy farmers might think, proper nutrition and animal care is the best way to decrease the impact of this rumen fermentation disorder. I spoke with Joe before his presentation to get his take away message for participants of this Symposium.
He says that it’s a subject we know a lot about but “we do not know a lot how ruminal acidosis is working, what it’s effects are.” He says he’ll be happy if symposium participants take away from his presentation that there are conflicting aspects to this problem.
Prof. Joachim Kleen Interview
Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
Posted: July 1, 2010 at 4:30 am
By Chuck
The Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech, was opened by Prof. Wouter Hendriks, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. There are 250 attendees at this year’s event being held at Utrecht University.
The overall topic for the Symposium is rumen health in dairy cows. I spoke with Wouter just before we got started. He says that the good rumen health will result in lowered methane emissions and greater animal welfare and this conference will focus on innovations and research being done to accomplish this.
Prof. Wouter Hendriks Interview
Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
Posted: June 30, 2010 at 4:11 pm
By Chuck
The presenters for the Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010, sponsored by Alltech, got together for dinner this evening. I’ll be interviewing most of them over the next couple days.
To get a preview of what this conference is all about I spoke first with Sylvie Andrieu, European Ruminant Technical Manager, Alltech. She says that the initial idea for this conference came from the idea that most give you a “little bit of everything” instead of more in-depth information. So they’ve selected one central topic for all the presentations to focus on. In this conference the focus will be on rumen health. There are 250 registered participants and the hope is that they will go home with practical solutions.
Post Update: I didn’t have a photo of Sylvie when I first posted this but now I do after she presided over the first afternoon session.
You can listen to my interview with Sylvie here: Sylvie Andrieu Interview
Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
Posted: June 30, 2010 at 8:20 am
By Chuck
Hello from Utrecht, Netherlands where I’ll be attending the 2010 Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech. Just got in this morning and after a short nap went for a walk. Right away I came to an outdoor market and was very pleased to see dairy products on display.
For lunch I had a really good brie and vegetables sandwich. I figure I’ll be eating pretty well the next couple days so it was strategic thinking to start out on the light side. Hopefully I’ll get to sample more of the cheeses made here in this region. I’ve just started a photo album for this event and have some photos from my walk in it: Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album
This evening I’ll be attending a dinner for speakers and others involved with the Symposium and we’ll get started officially tomorrow morning.
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