The Future is Bright For Dairy and Dairy Ingredients. Make It with Dairy.

 

Private-label retailer Aldi now offers Elevation Protein Puffs. Milk protein isolate is the number-one ingredient. Some of the other—but not all--dairy ingredients in the puffs are skim milk, whey protein concentrate and cheese. Each 2.1-ounce pack provides a mere 220 calories and a whopping 42 grams of protein, along with 6 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of sugars (none are added sugars). This exemplifies the meaning of a nutrient-dense food. On the backside, the brand calls out the amino acid composition of the product and highlights the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) content. The BCAAs are associated with lean muscle recovery and development.  



 

Global demand for dairy, meat, poultry and fish is projected to climb steadily over the next decade, driven by rising incomes and urbanization in middle-income countries, according to a new report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034, which was released July 23, 2025, projects a 6% increase in global per capita consumption of animal-source foods by 2034. The trend is most pronounced in lower middle-income countries, where intake is expected to rise by 24%, far outpacing the global average. To access the report, link HERE.

 

A highlight of the report is a scenario where nourishment improves for all, and at the same time, agricultural emissions are reduced by as much as 7% below current levels by 2034.

“We have the tools to end hunger and boost global food security,” said Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the OECD. “Well-coordinated policies are needed to keep global food markets open, while fostering long-term productivity improvements and sustainability in the agriculture sector.”
International trade will remain indispensable to the global agri-food sector, according to the report. And what perfect timing, as the day before this report came out, there finally was some good news to come out of Washington, D.C. 

There’s a new trade framework between the United States and Indonesia that eliminates tariffs on the vast majority of U.S. exports and contains pledges to remove longstanding nontariff barriers affecting American dairy products.

“This looks like it will be a significant win for U.S. dairy,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “We are pleased to hear this framework removes roadblocks to trade and will help grow dairy sales in one of the world’s most populous markets.”

Krysta Harden, president and CEO of The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), said, “(This) announcement is an important step forward in advancing opportunities for U.S. dairy exporters. This deal is poised to strengthen our long-term partnership with Indonesia while giving U.S. dairy companies a better shot at competing fairly. While verification that Indonesia honors its commitments will be necessary, the removal of both tariff and nontariff barriers is precisely what our industry needs to create new momentum for U.S. dairy exports and deeper collaboration with a key Southeast Asian partner.”

The United States exported $246 million in milk powders, whey products, cheese and other dairy ingredients to Indonesia in 2024, making it the seventh largest U.S. dairy export destination. The agreement complements ongoing by NMPF and USDEC to support integration of school milk into Indonesia’s new Free Nutritious Meals program and foster greater collaboration on trade.

There’s also room to do a lot more with dairy in the U.S. For example, domestic commercial use of total milk solids grew by 2.2% from a year ago during March to May, according to a new Dairy Market Report from NMPF and Dairy Management Inc. Check out the table above. You can access the report HERE.

Want to learn more about milk’s inherent nutrient density and versatility? Growing consumer trust in dairy’s “simplicity” and “minimal processing” makes U.S. milk, products made from milk and dairy ingredients ideal for application functional food and beverage innovation. Whether it’s related to protein quality, bioactivity, naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, prebiotic carbohydrates, and/or functional fats, it's time to tell dairy's nutrient density story. Register for a free webinar on this topic taking place July 30, 2025, 1:00pm CDT. Register HERE.

Yours truly, Donna Berry, along with dairy industry veteran and dear friend KJ Burrington, vice president of technical development at American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI), will demonstrate why dairy ingredients are the nutritional stars behind innovative products from around the globe and how you can leverage their benefits in the products you are developing today. If you can’t join us live, be sure to register to gain access to the recording.