Innovation in the dairy industry has grown significantly over the last 50 years. But as Paul Ziemninsky of Dairy Management Inc. observed, "The people who may have driven volume growth last 40 to 50 years, those companies They've been bought. They've diversified in other ways."

Which is why a new research and development talent pipeline will be essential for the long term growth of, and new innovations in dairy.

"It's going to take those colleges and universities and start-ups and the companies that work with them to generate that next generation of growth," Ziemninsky pointed out.

And when it comes to dairy industry support in regards to innovation, "we have to bee supportive not just of these guys but also how do we create more of this innovation incubation environment?"

Could that include what is taking place with the billion dollar plus investment in plant-based products?  

"Yet we've got a multi hundred billion dollar category that can grow easily if we just put the same type of investment and resources  bigger in both volume and value."

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com

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