FDBusiness.com

The International Dairy Federation (IDF) through its Irish National Committee is hosting two major symposia which will run for the first time as a double-billed event in Dublin, Ireland during 11th-13th April 2016. The Concentrated and Dried Milks Symposium is a sequel to the 5th International Symposium on Spray Dried Dairy Products last held in St-Malo, France in June 2012 which at the time emphasised how adaptation of technologies helped reduce drying energy costs of spray drying and enhance the functional properties of dairy powders. Equally the Cheese Science & Technology Symposium follows on from its forerunner event last held also in 2012 in Madison, Wisconsin (USA).

The IDF Parallel Symposia 2016, as it is known, has the exclusive Gold Sponsorship backing of Ornua (“the home of Irish dairy”) – owner of the iconic ‘Kerrygold’Ò brand with internationally renowned process engineering company, GEA Group, as Silver Sponsor. Dutch-based specialist solution provider to the milk drying sector, HB Group, is a bronze sponsor. Ireland provides an interesting setting for the 2016 symposia with its predominant grass-based milk production system and supply chain partnering with major multi-national infant milk formula manufacturers based here.

Timely Event

The 2016 parallel symposia are timely given the industry stimulus that followed the lifting of the EU milk quota production restrictions during 2015 – substantial investment has taken place and continues to be made in milk processing capacity commensurate with a well-judged anticipated expansion in milk production at farm level. A long term market perspective takes into consideration the growing demand for foods including dairy arising from projected global population expansion. An important dimension to these IDF symposia will be the focus on how the multi-disciplinary nature of dairy science and technology can act as an engine of development that will be able to respond with innovative and sustainable dairy product and ingredient solutions to meet growing needs in different markets. Such innovation extends beyond merely nutritional profiling, but to also include how ingredients may be adapted to impart biological functionality in food formulations into which they are incorporated.

The Opening Ceremony to a plenary gathering on Day 1 will feature a keynote presentation by Kevin Lane, Chief Executive, Ornua, on the role of innovation in dairy to meet long term global market and nutritional needs. This plenary session will also feature keynote addresses by leading academics to mark the celebration by international publishing house, Elsevier, of the 25th publication anniversary of its peer-reviewed ‘International Dairy Journal’.

The alignment of the two symposium topics is also important since cheese manufacture is the powerhouse for whey generation – a supply line that is crucial to meet the ever-growing demand for dried whey protein ingredients and nutritional formulations. The topic of infant milk formula is important internationally and also specifically to Ireland where considerable volumes of IMF product and related ingredients are manufactured. Dr Erik Konings, Nestlé, has agreed to speak on the subject of ISO/IDF cooperation with regards to the drafting of standards for submission to Codex.

Latest Insights

It is also planned to get the latest insights from the international official methods organisation AOAC and its Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN) on developments that will interest both IMF companies and their ingredient suppliers. Several speakers are lined up to talk on the technological and processing aspects of IMF – Dr Mark Fenelon, Head of Teagasc Food Research, will explore the topic of next generation infant formula in terms of ingredient innovation and sustainable process development.

With one registration fee payment, participants will have the option of moving freely between the parallel-run symposia. This 3-day double-billed symposia is an ideal opportunity for all engaged in dairy processing to refresh on latest underpinning scientific and technological developments.

The IDF Parallel Symposia 2016 organising committee is guided by the chairmanship of Dr Noel Cawley, retired CEO, Irish Dairy Board and current Chairman, Teagasc – Agriculture & Food Development Authority. Early Bird registration is now open on-line at www.idfingredientsandcheese2016.com.

CAPTION:

Phil Kelly of Teagasc with Dr Karen Twomey, Tyndall National Institute, UCC. The two are collaborating on the development of a biosensor to monitor select microbial targets during milk drying processes.